You Have Been Cleaning the Bathroom Wrong, All Your Life

There is just something about cleaning a bathroom that makes many people feel squeamish, just by thinking about this necessary but disgusting chore. Maybe it’s the thought of the work required to clean it, the fact that we defecate in there, or whatever other reason; regardless, cleaning bathrooms is officially the least liked chore of all. This is why; we like to opt for the easy route when it comes to this chore which means that the cleaning is not done as thoroughly as is required.

Following are some tips and tricks to not only clean your bathroom as quickly as possible, but in a thorough and effective way as well.  

Don’t Clean Surfaces at Room Temperature

You might not know this but the effectiveness of alkaline cleansers can be doubled by heating the tub, sink and tiles at just 10 degrees above the normal air temperature. You can do this by filling the tub or sink with the hottest water from the tap, let the water sit for a few minutes, and then scrubbing the areas clean.

Don’t Scrub On Plastic Shower Curtains

Doing so will be just a waste of your energy. Instead, a much smarter option is to throw the curtain in the washing machine, along with a couple of towels, a full cup of vinegar and run the machine for at least five minutes. Let the curtain and towels soak in the vinegar induced water for about an hour, then turn it back on. After the cycle is complete, take out and hang to dry.

Using Paper Towels Is a Big No

Instead, a better idea is to invest in a good quality and durable microfiber cloth. Made from ultra fine synthetic fibers woven closely together to create a kind of static charge, the microfiber cloth is able to pick up dust and dirt without the help of sprays. In addition, these cloths are washable and re-usable for a long time.  

Vacuuming is Important for the Bathroom Too

One misconception of homeowners is that vacuuming can only be done on carpets. Well, not only can you vacuum on your bathroom tiles and other places as well, but doing so, is probably a good idea. What you should do before cleaning the tiles is tosweep or vacuum the floor which will remove loose debris and dirt, then wash with a cleaning solution. 

Don’t Forget To Clean Behind the Toilet

Admit it, you don’t clean behind the toilet but here’s why you should. It’s very easy for urine and fecal matter to deposit back there, which is very hard to clean due to the gross residue left behind. To help clean this area of the bathroom, use a few paper towels as it’s better than a re-usable one for the dirty job. Dip the towels in an antibacterial cleaner, and start off by ‘flossing’ the back of the toilet. Leave for a few minutes, and then repeat the process but this time with a dry towel.  

4 Helpful Tips for Faster Spring Cleaning

Are you ready to give to your home a scrub; from top to bottom? One very important tip, when it comes to spring cleaning is that you should focus all your efforts on the big parts of your home first, such as the furnishings, appliances, carpeting, and so on. You will then have a spring cleaned home in no time at all, if all these major tasks are covered.

Saving Time on Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning

You might say it’s not possible, as the chore is a very demanding and time consuming one. But in fact, you can make it less time consuming and demanding by moving the furniture just slightly,instead of completely out of the room or even against the wall. 

Remember to place the legs of all the pieces of furniture on top of wax paper, which will protect the carpet after shampooing and ensure that the furniture legs do not get wet or damaged as the carpet is left to dry. To speed up the drying process, open all the windows of that room and the fan as well if available.

Finishing Your Floors, the Effective Way 

A good way to protect floors in the kitchen from wear and tear is by applying a sealer or wax according to the directions provided by the product’s label. The simplest method by far is to use a combination of wash and wax floor solution, which will save you, loads of time as well.

Although no-wax floors can last long without a polishing treatment, they still need some kind of treatment to make themlook fresher. They also need a protective buffer to make them more durable against wear and tear. Use a 2 in 1 floor cleaning solution that both; cleans and shines. 

For wooden floors, move furniture and rugs out of the way and apply a wood cleaner. Finish it off with either a paste or liquid polish.  

A Little Intelligence with Vacuuming Will Go a Long Way

The labor intensive and out-dated rule of vacuuming where youdrag every piece of furniture out of the room and off the carpet;doesn’t do any favors to your back. Adopting a new rule will not only save time, but also enable you to clean every nook and corner thoroughly and quite effectively, without any trouble!

Simply move the big pieces of furniture to the left or right, but only a little. Move the piece at its original place after vacuuming the newly vacated area. 

Washing Walls, Cabinets and Woodwork Isn’t So Hard

With the help of a sponge and any dishwashing solution, wash the surface after dividing it into sections for efficiency. A sponge mop will help you reach the higher spots easily. Place water in 2 buckets, one with a cleaning solution and the other to wring the sponge in, for the easiest and quickest cleaning possible. Dry the walls and woodwork with a clean and dry cloth.

NAR: Renters feeling the squeeze; Charlotte job, income growth make city ‘an anomaly’ 

By: Sharon Roberts, editor March 16, 2015

The National Association of Realtors reported Monday that a gap is widening between household rental costs and household income in much of the nation, leading to “unsustainable levels” and made worse by a paucity of new-home construction. However, the Charlotte region appears to be bucking the averages. Although rents in the Charlotte area have risen faster in ...

Read more: http://mecktimes.com/news/2015/03/16/nar-renters-feeling-the-squeeze-charlotte-job-income-growth-make-city-an-anomaly/#ixzz3UqxBgScx

7 Simple Tricks to Make Flowers Last for Longer

Do you hate it when you are forced to throw away flowers given from a loved one, only because they have lost their fragrance and are no longer fresh? Wait! There is a way in which you can make those Valentine’s Day roses, graduation bouquets, or anniversary arrangements stay fresh and blooming with vibrant color for a few more days. 

Don’t Throw Away Leftover Soda

Instead, you can use it to preserve your flowers for longer. Shocked? The sugar in the soda is the ingredient that will make the blossoms last for longer, so pour about a ¼ cup into the vase of water that will be used to put the cut flowers in. Note: Use Sprite or 7-up if you want the water to remain clear.

Hairspray Preserves More Than Hairstyles

Only a spritz of hair spray on your vase full of cut flowers can keep them looking fresh and beautiful for longer! Standing at least a foot away from the bouquet, give the flowers a quick spray and watch the magic. Remember to spritz just on the undersides of leaves and petals.

Apple Cider Vinegar is Food for Flowers

There are several good methods of keeping cut flowers looking as fresh as possible and for longer. One way is by the use of adding 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with the same amount of sugar and mixing the concoction into the vase water before putting in the flowers. Remember to change the water, and make a fresh mixture every couple of days.

Another Reason for Stocking Up on Aspirin

This is a tried and true (read tested) way of keeping roses and other cut flowers looking and smelling fresh for longer. Crush an aspirin and dissolve it into the vase of water before adding the flowers. Also, every few days, don’t forget to change the water.

Bleach Can Be Used for So Much More   

Adding in ¼ teaspoon of bleach per 1 liter of vase water will be effective in keeping your cut flowers looking fresh for longer. One more increasingly used recipe using bleach is by adding in 3 drops of the product with 1 teaspoon of sugar in a quart of water. Doing this will give the added benefit of keeping the water from getting cloudy while also inhibiting the growth of bacteria.

Encourage Coin Collection in Your Kids

Simply adding a copper penny and a cube of sugar will make your posies and other cut flowers last longer and smelling just as fresh! The science behind this is that the copper in pennies acts as an acidifier, which prevents bacteria from growing.

Adding Sugar to Tea is Too Mainstream

You can make your own preservative by dissolving 3 tablespoons of sugar with 2 tablespoons of with vinegar for every liter of warm water. One thing to remember before filling the vase with water and adding the cut stems is to make sure that they are covered by 3-4 inches with the prepared water.

34 Ingenious Ways To De-Clutter Your Entire Life

Time to get ruthless.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/how-to-de-clutter-your-entire-life#.gaBgrlWwx

Hot Drinks to keep You Warm This Winter

Share the wonders of winter, and Christmas cheer with your family and friends with a mug of hot beverages, infused with aromatic herbs and spices that will not only lift your spirits, and lend a heartwarming welcome to the holidays but also keep you feeling warm and toasty for hours.

Spicy Hot Cocoa

Ingredients

½ cup unsweetened baking cocoa

¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

¼ teaspoon ground cardamom

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 

2 cups of water

2 tablespoons of honey

Instructions

Thoroughly mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl. In a separate saucepan, add in water with the cocoa mixture with the honey. Put the flame on medium heat and stir constantly until the mixture turns velvety and smooth in texture. For garnishing, place a large cinnamon stick in each mug before serving the warm beverage. This will make 1-2 servings. 

Lavender-Lemon Hot Toddy

Ingredients

Fresh juice of one lemon

2 tablespoons of lavender flower buds

1 teaspoon ginger

2 regular green tea bags OR 2 tablespoons of loose green tea

1-2 raw and crushed cloves of garlic (optional)

Instructions

This non-alcoholic variation of the hot toddy combines the calming effects of lavender, with the healing properties of honey and lemon. Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then remove from heat. Let it steep for 5 minutes, strain the brew and pour into teacups or mugs.  This will make 1-2 servings.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

1 cup water

¼ cup dried peppermint

2 tablespoons honey

½ cup unsweetened baking cocoa

1 cup unsweetened soymilk OR water

Instructions

Winters without hot chocolate are no fun, and this peppermint hot chocolate concoction is an all time favorite, which can be made for the summers as well. Boil water in a small saucepan, adding in the dried peppermint and honey. Remove the pan from heat, and let the mixture steep for 5 or more minutes. 

In another saucepan, combine cocoa, soymilk or water with the mint mixture and place over medium heat. Stir the mixture constantly, until the texture turns smooth and velvety. You can also use fresh peppermint leaves in place of dried peppermint, and use chocolate chips for a chocolatier flavor.

Elderberry-Ginger Tea

Ingredients

2 cups water

2 regular teabags (either green or black)

1 teaspoon fresh ginger

1 teaspoon fennel seeds

2 tablespoons dried elderberries

Instruction

Why bring berry flavored green tea from the store when you can make an equally, if not more delicious one right at home. This tea infused with elderberries contains many medicinal properties to boot which makes it a perfect winter drink. In a medium sized saucepan, add all the ingredients and bring to a boil. 

Remove the pan from heat, and let the mixture steep for 5 minutes. Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the warm tea into mugs or teacups and serve. 

Do try these warm and soothing winter drinks and let us how much your guests or loved ones like them.

Try These Skin Care Tips To Beat The Dry Season Away!

It’s that time of the year again, which isn’t at all easy; for our skin, hair and nails that is. The cold, and harsh weather paired with extreme levels of dryness can really affect and leave us a little worse for wear. Add indoor heating to the mix, and your skin will be left even more starved of moisture, as the protective layers crack and dry, making repair work impossible. That doesn’t mean you can’t prevent the inevitable from happening, or at least aid in the treatment by following these easy winter care tips that cover head to toe!

Our Number One Enemy, Dry Skin

To cure dry skin, add a few drops of grape seed or olive oil in your bathwater before taking a soak. The other alternative is to apply a thin layer of the same oil, onto your body after the bath or shower. 

Red and irritated skin can feel better from oatmeal infused bath, as strange as it may sound. For extremely damaged skin, opt for Vaseline instead of any other regular lotion and apply a thick layer within three minutes from stepping out of the bath.

Red Noses Are Embarrassing

The reason why our noses turn red like a tomato in winters is because when in the cold weather outside, blood circulation is stopped to the nose. The vessels dilate fast, when we come back in the warmth, which causes a rush of blood to the nose. 

There is no reason to look like Rudolph, the reindeer anymore. To brink a normal hue to your nose apply a warm water compress to it for a few minutes. If suffering from a winter cold, opt for extra soft tissues and make sure not to rub the nose for that will only irritate the skin further. Throughout the day keep applying a thin layer of ointment to keep the sensitive area moisturized.

Deal With Itchy And Dry Scalp

Once every week or specifically before taking a cool shower,massage in some vitamin E, coconut or olive oil and wash the hair with an anti dandruff shampoo. Tea tree oil is also a good substitute for replenishing the oils naturally present in the scalp. 

Brittle Nails Are Unhealthy

In winters, you may have noticed that the nails on your hands and feet are more susceptible to breaking. This is because; the dry air sponges the moisture, leaving nails delicate and brittle. Brittle nails are easy to treat; all you have to do before going to bed is apply olive oil or any lotion containing lanolin on your nails. For more effectiveness, put on gloves and socks to trap the moisture.

What To Do With Static-Y Hair

Come winter and your hair starts to resemble a haystack, that won’t stay neatly inside a hat however hard you try! The long standing tip to battle static in hair is conditioner and loads of it. 

If static is still a problem, consider purchasing brushes with natural bristles which produce less static than its plastic counterpart. Change your head gear to cotton hats.

With these winter skin tips in mind, you’ll be sure to breeze through the cold season without any problem!