Everyday Cleaning
A HISTORY OF CLEAN
I grew up in a military family with a mother who stayed at home. She came from a line of women who prided themselves on the work they accomplished; be that raising kids, feeding a family, + upkeep of a household. Opening the front door always smelled of lemons, lavender, wood polish, and chocolate chip cookies. Was my mom a bit OCD? Probably, but she acquired that attention to detail from her mother and now I too find myself unable to be completely comfortable unless my home smells and looks the same.
I found myself married at 19 to an Army man. The first few months were trial and error in the household department. I was forced to understand finances, the true art of laundry, and even branched out when it came to cooking but cleaning a home, that was where my talents shined. I took great pride in my husband coming home to a well cared for space after a long day.
Time has passed. I divorced my husband who I married at 19. We had weathered a storm brought on by multiple deployments that forced us to grow apart. When the divorce was final I found comfort in the things I could control, like cleaning. I figured if my child, who had so much change going on around him, could come home to a familiar space it would be one less discomfort in his life.
Today I am remarried, working full time, a football/soccer mom to a high schooler, with 2 dogs. There is a lot of joy in this home and it still smells like my mothers; lemons, lavender, wood polish, and chocolate chip cookies.
THE PRODUCTS
I have lived around the world, literally, with my current home being a 7 bedroom “mini mansion” (that was the title of the real estate listing) in Germany. Its a weekly commitment to clean. That means my cleaning products are forever changing to accommodate things like certain minerals in the water or the best products to maximize my time. Wanting to recreate the smells of my childhood home, I gravitate to scents like lemons and lavender but a home decorated in gold and white means I also keep an eye out for baking soda or bleach type ingredients.
When it’s time to clean my glass shower walls I swear by Driven which is a heavy duty glass cleaner another military wife raved about on a cleaning facebook forum. Bathroom countertops always get a scrub down with liquid Soft Scrub. Wood furniture is always treated with Pledge while electronics are dusted with a 360 Swiffer. Speaking of dust, I battle dog hair which means I always vacuum with my Dyson before mopping with lavender Fabuloso. I use lemon verbena Mrs. Meyers on my kitchen counters and on my white cabinets. OH! I can’t forget toilets which are a nightmare here in Germany so I invested in a good Pumice stone and a trusty no splash bottle of bleach.
WHAT I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT
There are a few tools I just can’t live without so I’ve spent my time narrowing it down. Here they are in no particular order:
Glass Spray Bottles: I blame this on the essential oils/homemade/chemical free home cleaning movement. I started mixing my own cleaners in El Paso, TX so I can attest to the value of a good spray bottle.
Microfiber Cloths: I (currently) live in a country where the citizens frown on excessive trash. This has forced me to re-evaluate my love for paper towels, dryer sheets, sponges, lysol wipes, and all things with only a few uses. Germans are obsessed with Microfiber Cloths, especially ones that can tackle multiple different rooms. Once your cleaning is done just throw it in your washer and air dry. Ta-Da - Zero waste!
Newspaper: I receive a lot of local newspapers in my mailbox, so I’ve decided to recycle them before literally “recycling” them. Use Newspapers to clean windows and mirrors. The absence of fuzz from a fiber cloth or paper towel makes them the #1 cleaning secret for all glass in the military.
p.s. Don’t use the ads, those can go straight into recycling or the lining of your hamsters cage.
German Mopping Systems: Germans are known for their engineering and they engineer the heck out of everything they touch, including cleaning tools. I was forced to use a German mop when I could no longer find replacements for my mop head overseas. I made a one time purchase of the handle/head system with three microfiber floor clothes and three mop pads since my house is three floors. Once again the pads are able to be cleaned AND dried in your dryer making them brand spanking new with no need to purchase more. Money SAVER!
Essential Oils + Diffusers: The popular candle company overseas is, hands down, Yankee Candle and I am not their biggest fan. I prefer a great candle from TJMaxx or fall/winter seasonal candles from Bath and Body Works but shipping can sometimes be difficult/expensive without a sale. Don’t even get me started on the loss of Scentsy (SOS - Please send the “Welcome Home” brick). A couple months ago I picked up a diffuser from my local Post Exchange and took a chance on a set of Essential Oils on Amazon. Y’all… total game changer! It doesn’t have to be a crazy expensive venture.
Labels: Okay, I know, weird but hear me out, you can’t really clean until your surfaces are free of clutter. This makes organizing just as important. I love clear vinyl labels in pre-printed script font to add on storage jars + boxes. Not only does it make finding things easier but also makes picking up a no brainer too. I buy all of my storage boxes and glass jars from the Container Store, Walmart, or Costco.
STAYING ON TASK
I always love a little inspiration when it comes to keeping a clean home but this website has stepped up my cleaning to a whole new level. I get that from the blog Clean Mama. Becky (Clean Mama) is ALL. THE. THINGS. She tackles subjects like essential oils, safe cleaning products, offers printable cleaning checklists for free, and recipes for all natural cleaners that work - Yup Clean Mama. She even has her own store full of glass spray bottles, microfiber clothes, buckets, recipe stickers, and she’s an author of multiple books. The Cleaning Routine Calendar (below) is always located on my refrigerator. It’s incredibly helpful both on what needs to be cleaned (without thought) and who I can give the responsibility to if I am at work and someone is home. Want to print a cleaning routine calendar for yourself? Click the image.
SHOP MY PRODUCTS
