Carmen's Random Tips: A Quick and Easy Way to Clean Your Refrigerator

A Quick Way to Swipe Down Your Refrigerator if You Don't Have Much Time (And for Regular Maintenance)

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Okay, so I haven't written in a couple of weeks and when I've decided to finally make the time it's to post a quick and easy way to clean your refrigerator!! The reason being...I had to wipe mine down two days ago and just wanted to share my brilliant idea, which made it go quicker!

And by the way, I say "had to" because I HATE tasks like this. But my new trick made it a breeze and it only took me 15 minutes tops. I also didn't clean out any bins though, so I'm sure if I added that then it would take a little bit longer.

This would be the kind of cleaning that would be good for regular "maintenance." A deep clean could still work with this idea, but to do a deep clean that includes bins. It's quickest to soak them in really hot water and some dish soap. Okay, so just for regular wiping down...grab...again...BABY WIPES!  

I use these things for everything. Not for disinfecting, but to wipe something sticky, crumbs and things like that. Makes cleaning a breeze. So I grabbed the baby wipes and was amazed at how clean my refrigerator came. For a deep clean I think I would wipe with the baby wipes first, then disinfect. But, wow. Baby wipes...who would of thought? I love these friggin things... And, remember, Huggies baby wipes work best to wipe things down with.

Tips for the Home: How To Clean An Oven - Cleaning Tips

Cleaning Tips

How to Clean an Oven

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You have two options here when learning how to clean an oven as far as I'm concerned; in my own personal experience anyway.

I used to help my mother clean a lot growing up, did a lot of housekeeping as a teenager, and as an adult I worked as a self-employed house keeper at one point (made pretty darn good money too!). 

When I was self-employed, I was cleaning vacant apartments and condos for a realty company to get them ready for new tenants and I cleaned a lot of ovens. 

Method Number One

When I cleaned vacant apartments and had to clean an oven I would put on a mask and spray the oven with a fume free oven cleaner spray. I would then let is sit for as long as it needed to sit while I went on to clean other things. Even though the spray I used was fume-free I still wore a mask. When it was ready to be wiped down I would wipe it down with a rag. I prefer to not use scrubby sponges with ovens because little pieces of the sponge break off into your oven and you don't want that.

That can also happen with some rags, so be careful about the material that you are cleaning your oven with. I'm also paranoid about anything that can cause fire (again - OCD), so avoid anything flammable falling into your oven. Use a rag that is strong and won't break apart. You can always test it out.

Now that you're ready to wipe it down grab your rag and a bucket. Fill the bucket with warm to hot water, preferably hot since you're going to be wearing cleaning gloves anyway. The hotter the better. Dip the rag into the water bucket and begin wiping down the oven, starting with the door that way you don't get oven cleaner on yourself! :D

Once the door is all clean, then start working on the inside. To clean the racks you should really take them out and clean them in either your kitchen sink or bath tub. The bath tub would give you more space but it can be done at the kitchen sink too. You will probably have to rinse out your bucket a few times before you're finished as the water will become dirty.

Method Number Two

Your second option and less toxic option in cleaning your oven is to use S.O.S. pads with a bucket of hot water and a rag to rinse. A little more time consuming but less toxic.

And there you have it. That's how to clean an oven. When you're finished your oven should be sparkling like new!!

Tips for the Home: How To Get A Sparkly Clean Bath Tub

How to Clean a Bath Tub

The Easiest Way to Clean a Bath Tub

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The easiest way to clean the tub itself and even shower walls if you have them is to clean them with a scrubby sponge and some Soft Scrub. I say "if you have them," because some people only have a bathtub and vice versa.

I've been using Soft Scrub on my tubs and shower walls ever since I was old enough to clean a tub or shower wall. Soft Scrub doesn't just clean, it deep cleans and removes film without really needing much elbow grease.  

If your tub or shower walls have soap scum on them wet a scrubby sponge with warm to hot water, apply a little soft scrub on the scrubby side of your sponge, then just clean the tub or shower wall. Of course make sure you're wearing gloves as to not burn your hands and to not get chemicals on your hands from the product itself.

You really only need to swipe it; there's not much scrubbing effort needed. If you have mold or mildew anywhere, like if you have it in your tile shower walls, or in the molding of your shower walls, then you can use a good mold and mildew bleach spray again with a scrubby sponge after letting that sit for a few minutes. This is good for crevices if your shower has those.

When you're finished cleaning rinse with warm water. I use a cup to rinse. Be careful to not splatter anything in your face when rinsing; I'm pretty anal about this, lol.  (OCD)

Final Thoughts

Just always make sure to wear cleaning gloves when handling any type of bleach product and make sure the room is well ventilated. You should also always wear a mask. I never wore a mask when handling bleach sprays until about two years ago. It's really not good to breathe in the fumes.

When I clean my bathroom with bleach products I always leave a window open for ventilation. Not so much for the Soft Scrub as with a bleach spray. If you don't have a window, then leave the door open and open a window nearest to the bathroom. Spray some air freshener too while you're at it.  

Give the room a good hour or so to air out when you're finished. And voila - you have a sparkly white tub and shower walls! Because, hey, we can't all afford to pay a housekeeper. ;)

Carmen's Random Tips: A Cheap And Easy Way To Decorate Your Home - Framed Posters

A Cheap Way to Decorate Your Home

Framed Posters

Running out of ideas on how to decorate your home and/or want to try something different? I'm in my thirties and can't believe that I never thought to do this before... It was a genius idea!

I'm sure others have had the same idea, but I felt like a genius none-the-less, lol. I personally love inspirational sayings and quotes. 

I also love anything that has to do with the outdoors, nature, and the sky, etc. So just out of curiosity, I started browsing through posters on Amazon.

I searched up exactly what would interest me for my home. I keyed in "inspirational posters," etc. Then I picked the largest poster that I could find (24x36), ordered them and framed them in cheap $20 black picture frames from Walmart.  

They look so much fancier than they cost! My hallway walls are high, so I thought that the large framed posters would look awesome and I was right. I also put up a poster in one of my teenage sons rooms and plan on ordering more with other ideas for other rooms.

Basically, instead of buying someone else's idea in a store that's already framed and cost a fortune, you're buying something that fits your personality to a T and then framing it yourself. I found a beautiful picture of a water fall that I want to frame and put in my dining room, too. There's actually many that I like.  

Another fun idea is to make an art project out of gluing a puzzle together onto cardboard and then framing it. An aunt of mine did this for me when I was about 10, 11 or 12 years old and I still have this puzzle hanging in my home till this day!  

Here's some pictures, so you can see just how easy this is and how great they look when they're up. I should add that the glass is not real glass, which is another plus when you have kids!

 This says "Dreams" and is in my hallway.

 This says, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."  And it's also in my hallway.

 The Dali Lama "One Day At A Time." Hallway.

 I didn't frame this one, but I might. It's much smaller.

 Front view of an "Imagination" poster that's in my 16 year old son's room. You could see the flash of the camera, so I took another one at a different angle below.

 My son's room again.

 This is the puzzle that one of my aunt's made for me when I was younger.  I still love it, even though it's ready to fall apart soon after all these years.

Close up. She framed it in wood. That's not even a picture frame. Just pieces of wood that she nailed together. She could have afforded a frame, believe me. But this was a very unique and creative idea. I love it.

Carmen's Random Tips: How to Keep Your House Cool in the Summer with or without Air Conditioning

How to Keep Your House Cool without Air Conditioning

Keep your house cool this summer with these simple tips...

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Okay. So today is the last day of this nasty heat wave, but it's still only July and we could have another one these things, or two... or three... for all we know. 

So I just felt like helping out others by sharing what I did today to keep my home cool and it really helped. Some of you may already do these things or maybe not.

These tips will help whether you have an air conditioner or just a bunch of fans. I'm telling you that it really works and helps. 

My AC's were literally struggling to keep up yesterday and the rooms that only had a fan were like a sauna, but today they're much better. Please Read.

Simple Tips to Keep Your House Cool when it's Hot Out

Tip #1)  This is for people with fans. First of all, you're going to think I'm crazy, but before the heat wave even begins -- when you know we're getting one -- on that last night of normal cool air, put a fan in the window to draw in cool air. This is where I'm going to sound crazy, but remember, it really works. It's a fact.

My mother taught me this and she learned about it in the news or something a long time ago. I've done this in the past too, but don't always bother with it. I'm glad I did the last two days, though. So here's the crazy part... In the morning, take the fan out of the window and close the window.

Keeping that fan in the window on a day when it's in the 90's is only going to draw in more hot air. Even if you take the fan out and keep the window open - same thing. You're only letting in more hot air. So close the window and follow the next tips below to learn more...

Tip #2)  If you have blinds, then keep them closed and turn them in the upwards direction. Not facing downwards. If you have shades, close them. This keeps the suns rays out.

Tip #3)  If you have solar curtains - great! If not, then try this... And it might sound a little ghetto, but remember that it's only during the "heat wave" and when that's over, you just take them down again. Cover the windows with blankets, towels, heavy dark curtains or several of all of the above to seal out the sun. Sealing out the sun is this is the key on days when it's in the upper 90's or hotter!!

Even in the rooms that are air conditioned, I put up a heavy towel over the blinds and it made such a difference today. Those rooms are much cooler than yesterday. The rooms that only have fans, I completely sealed off any sunlight from getting in.

If I put a towel at the top, then I put a small blanket across the bottom and I didn't stop there... I also  tacked them, that way I made doubly sure that it was sealed. You only need like 2-4 tacks to do that.  And...wow...the rooms that only have fans aren't that bad!! Yesterday, it was a sauna!

Tip #4)  Common sense - make sure to drink water but be careful not to drink "too much water." Believe it or not, you can actually drink too much water. They say 6-8 glasses a day is safe. If you know differently, then feel free to comment.

Tip #5)  Try not to use your stove for long periods. If you know a heat wave is coming, plan on making quick and easy meals. Try avoiding the stove. The stove is not your friend on a day when it's in the upper 90's.

Update to Tip #1)   Two of my air conditioners kicked the bucket last summer and I have every intention of buying new ones this summer, but haven't had the money yet. Hopefully, this Friday I can start buying a few. Anyhow, this is what I did for the recent heat wave that we had here in New York.

I kept my fans in the windows until about 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. on one day, and then shut them until about 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. while the heat was the most intense. The next day, I decided to keep them open all day with the fans, but still kept the top part of the windows dark and covered. It was more comfortable that way compared to day one of the heat wave. 

Well, that's about it!! I really hope that I've helped someone in some way. Try it - it really works!

PLEASE NOTE:  If you have temps in the 100's, then I don't know if I'd recommend any of this.  We survived a recent heat wave here in NY where it was in the upper 90's with the heat index close to 110.  But right now as I speak, I am planning on cooling my entire house with AC's.  

I lost two AC's last summer and am in the process of replacing them.  For that kind of heat, don't take any chances with your health.  If you don't have AC, then stay with a relative or friend.  Also, look into public cooling facilities in your area.  Definitely invest in AC for 100 degree + days.

Carmen's Random Tips: Easy Ways to Clean Your Couch

Quick Tips on How to Clean Your Couch Yourself

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Normally when cleaning my couch, I've just always used my vacuum cleaner along with a can of spray Resolve. Or maybe I'll use a squirt of Dawn dish soap mixed with warm water for spot treatments, which is another good trick. 

But recently I learned some new ideas - a few new tricks I'd like to share, which is how I'm going to do it today. If you have children or pets, you will love how easy this is...

Simple and Easy Tips to Clean a Couch without a Professional:

Step 1.)  Vacuum the furniture.

Step 2.)  Wipe down the furniture with antibacterial Wipes. (I bought the Lysol wipes.)

Step 3.)  Spray the furniture down with a can of Resolve. (I love this stuff; it's great on carpets too!) Alternatively, you can use a mixture of 1/4 cup detergent with a gallon of water, instead of Resolve. I just think the resolve is quicker and easier. Quick and easy is what we're aiming for here.

Step 4.)  Take a washcloth or any type of cloth and a bucket of warm to hot water. Dip the cloth into the bucket, squeeze it out good and then begin wiping the furniture down.

Step 5.)  Let the couch air dry.

Step 6.)  Vacuum the couch again.

Step 7.)  Finish by spraying a spritz of Febreze for fabric and voila - clean furniture!

Final Thoughts

Using antibacterial wipes is my new tip. I thought that it was such an awesome idea. So I'm cleaning my furniture today, because in the past few months I considered getting all new furniture, but this set is only four years old  and it cost me a fortune. I was in love with it when I bought it, so I want to take care of it and preserve it for as long as I can.

One of the cushions broke when I was pregnant with my twin daughters (HAHAHA) so this broken cushion made me hate the whole couch. But it would be much cheaper to clean 'er up and fix the cushion than to buy a whole new set. Anywho, happy cleaning!!

Carmen's Random Tips: How To Clean A Kitchen Sponge - Cleaning Tips

How to Clean a Kitchen Sponge Instead of Throwing it Out

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A Quick Tip to Keep Your Kitchen Sponge Clean and Bacteria Free

Tired of throwing out stinky kitchen sponges? They do in fact sell sponges that seem to last longer and resist bacteria, but there is a way to slightly extend the shelf life of your kitchen sponge that's very easy. 

Kitchen sponges can very quickly become infested with germs and bacteria, but you don't have to throw them away. I mean, unless of course the sponge is raggedy and ready for the garbage, then please do throw it away.

But regardless of how old your kitchen sponge is, you should always try to keep it clean. Especially after washing anything that has to do with raw chicken or hamburger juices.

Two Simple Methods to Clean Your Kitchen Sponge 

The next time you think your sponge needs a quick cleaning to get rid of bacteria, try this:

Method 1)  Simply bring a small pan of water to a boil. Once the water begins to boil, you're going to place the sponge in the boiling water for three minutes. 

Method 2)  My mother also suggests wetting the sponge, squeezing it out, and then placing it into the microwave for one minute on high heat to kill bacteria.

Final Thoughts

I always do this after I've washed anything in connection with meat or chicken. Think about it - do you want to wash your child's sippy cup with the same sponge that you just cleaned chicken or hamburger blood off of a plate with, or a spatula that you just flipped burgers with??

This is a very simple way to keep your sponge clean and bacteria free, while also slightly extending the life of the sponge. Instead of throwing it out and buying new, before you really have to!