Housekeeping

If there's one thing that working moms and stay-at-home mothers have in common, it's that ubiquitous feeling of guilt. For working mamas it's often the guilt of missing a school function or having to take a business trip, while stay-at-home moms frequently say they often feel guilty for not putting their education and previous career experience to work.

While we may beat ourselves up for not being the first one in the pick-up line or not reading that extra chapter at bedtime, there's one category we all tend to feel the most guilty about: the cleanliness of our homes!

According to a new survey by the Working Mother Research Institute and Ernst & Young, the number one thing working moms feel the most judged about is how they keep their homes, while it was the second most frequently cited response by stay-at-home moms (the first being their contribution to the family's finances). Sixty-eight percent of LilSugar readers told us that the one professional they wish they could hire for themselves is a housekeeper, and now we can see why!

Is your home's cleanliness something that you feel judged about as a mother?

As we wind into the last stretch of Summer, my mind is racing ahead to all of the items that still need to be checked off on my end-of-Summer home maintenance to-do list. One task that I definitely need to get to in the next month is cleaning out my rain gutters. It's something I neglected to do at the beginning of the Summer, and even though the Bay Area monsoons won't start for another couple months, I know that it's better if I do it sooner than later.

Another chore that I've been neglecting is cleaning up under our fruit trees. The figs are just starting to ripen, but pesky squirrels have been getting a jump on the harvest by eating half of a fruit and then throwing the rest of it on the ground beneath. Since rotting fruit can actually contribute to disease in fruit trees, this task is an absolute must!

In colder climates, end-of-Summer tasks are even more important. Switching out window screens for storm windows is a common chore for many homeowners, as is putting away Summer outdoor plants. What's on your to-do list for must-do Summer maintenance tips?

There's a time for giving your house a deep Spring cleaning, but preparing for unexpected guests is not that time. If you find out with just a couple hours — or a few minutes! — notice that company's coming, no need to panic. All it takes is a little prioritizing and a few shortcuts, and your house will be visitor-ready in no time flat. Read on for my tips on how to speed clean every room in your house!

• The whole house: Skip the vacuum. Use a DustBuster to pick up noticeable debris in high-traffic areas, and follow with a dry Swiffer if needed. Avoid strongly scented cleaners like bleach and Pine-Sol, and opt instead for Mrs. Meyers Basil Countertop Spray ($4) or Method Multi-Surface Wipes ($4). Light a couple scented candles, and open all the windows.
• The entry: Hang up jackets and scarves, and either put away shoes or line them up neatly. Relocate stacks of mail to the office or a letter basket, and spritz the entry with a fresh-smelling room spray — I'm partial to Crabtree and Evelyn's Lavender Room Spray ($16).
• The kitchen: If you don't have time to wash and dry the dishes lying around, give them a quick rinse and stack them neatly in the sink to get them out of the way. Wipe down the counters with a cleaning wipe, and take out any stinky trash like compost.
• The living room: Pick up any out-of-place items and toss them in a basket. Refold throws, straighten sofa cushions, and put throw pillows back in their rightful place. If you have pets, give their areas a quick shot of Febreze.
• The bathroom: Wipe down the bathroom counters, sink, and faucet with a premoistened, flushable cleaning wipe, like these from Method ($4). Spritz a little cleaner into the toilet bowl and give it a quick swirl with a toilet brush.

Just before your guests arrive, dim any overhead lights, light a few more strategically placed candles, and open a bottle of wine. I guarantee no one will be looking around for what you missed! How do you speed clean to prepare for unexpected guests?

Spring cleaning is a chore which, quite frankly, I dread. But once you get through it — through the depths of your junk drawer and the black hole of your closets — you feel a sense of relief. Your routine is refreshed and your mind is clear. You can actually see the clothes that you own, and you don't waste any more time putting dead batteries into your remote controls. I have learned a thing or two Spring (and Fall) cleaning my home, so here are some of my tried and true tricks for the task:

• When in doubt, look up. The biggest downer about Spring cleaning comes when you realize you don't have enough room to store all of the things you want to keep. But maybe you do. This year, I realized I had enough space in my closet to add another shelf at the top. It's so high that I need a step stool to reach it, so it makes an ideal place to store out-of-season apparel like sweaters, gloves, and hats.
• Get help. Personally, I think of Spring cleaning as purging all the excess stuff in my home that doesn't need to be there. Once I get rid of the clutter, I feel a sense of relief. But that doesn't mean my home shouldn't also be cleaned. After I've spent hours tossing out dated outfits and too-small jeans, the last thing I want to do is pick up a mop. It might be a cop out, but it's worth it to me to be able to finally put my feet up and pay $70 to a cleaning lady to deep clean my apartment. She does a much better job than I ever could, too.
• Hand-me-down. You've heard it a million times before: "Divide your things into keep, throw-away, and donation piles." It's good advice, but when it comes down to letting go of that off-the-shoulder neon sequin top you splurged on but only wore once, it's hard to swallow. To ease the pain, I always invite my girlfriends over to go through my donation piles. Once a year, when an '80s disco party invitation arrives in my inbox, I can call her up and say, "Hey, remember that top I gave you? Can I borrow it?" Friends understand.
• Give yourself deadlines. Once you've gone through all of your possesions, you'll be left with piles of clothes that need to be dry-cleaned, shoes that need to be polished and reheeled, and rugs that need to be steamed. But let's face it: you can't get this done all in one day. Unfortunately, all of these bullet points can also add up to a pretty penny; my cobbler loves me! So what I like to do is give myself a deadline of one task to conquer per week. One week, it's my duty to drop off all the dry-cleaning, have my skirts hemmed, and so on, and then pick them up and return them to my closet. The next week, I have to lug my dhurrie to a carpet cleaner and arrange a time to pick it up. Lay out a schedule and a budget for yourself, and don't get in over your head.
• Reward yourself. Since, as I mentioned, I dread Spring cleaning. I need a little — sometimes, big — motivation to get through it. But shopping, after you've just spent hours cleaning out your pantry, is not the answer. Instead, I like to make a reservation at a favorite fancy restaurant — you know, the kind you only go to when mom and dad visit. Or, I'll treat myself to a mani/pedi and a blowout or plan a trip away with friends the following weekend. That way I simply can't wait to finish the dirty work, and I'm not adding any more stuff to my slimmer, sleeker closets.

What tried and true Spring cleaning tricks do you have? Please share them in the comments below!

On rushed mornings, the last thing I want to do is drag my space-hogging ironing board out from the closet, unfold it, plug in my iron, and wait 10 minutes for it to heat up. Instead, I wind up choosing something a little less wrinkled than the clothing I initially had in mind. So I decided to buy a fabric steamer, the Rowenta 1400-Watt Pro Compact Steamer ($50), and see if I might become a convert.

My steamer is so compact, I can easily slide it under my bed when not in use. When I'm in a rush, I can conveniently pull it out and plug it in. Within two minutes, the little machine is gurgling away and ready for action. The set comes with a door hook, where I can hang the wide steam-head brush and hangers for my clothing.

The steamer has a fabric hose with a 360-degree swivel base, so you can steam at any angle — and you don't need to lay your apparel on a flat surface like an ironing board, either. Better yet, it can be used on any type of fabric. So every once in a while, I steam my curtains to keep them looking prim; they don't even have to be removed from their rods! I've also used my steamer to banish wrinkles from my sofa's skirted slipcover and even things like fabric bags and pillowcases — all tasks I'd never try with an iron.

I've had this baby for three months now, and probably use it every other day, a drastic increase from my biannual ironing. So there, I'm officially a convert. I don't know how I got through life without my magical fabric steamer, but I can say with 100 percent certainty that I'll never go back. Join the club: you (and your wrinkly laundry) will thank me.

Last week I bought this antique leather wing chair at an antique shop in San Francisco. I'm kind of obsessed with it! It has so many amazing features like nailhead trim, turned-wood arms, a ladder back, and of course, tufted leather. Its leather cushion is also worn in and a little cracked, which is the well-loved look that I'd been seeking.

When I bought it, the leather was a little worse for the wear, the nailhead was dusty, and the wooden legs were scratched up. After spending an hour or so sprucing it up, it's looking mighty fine, I must say. If you have a new old leather and wood chair on your hands that could use a pick-me-up, I have some restoration tips for you.
Here's what I did to get my sexy seat into shape:

• First, I removed the seat and vacuumed every nook and cranny to get rid of dust and other particles.
• Then, I slightly dampened a clean rag and ran it across the surface of the nail head and wooden trim to reach dust the vacuum couldn't. Then I ran a clean, microfiber cloth across the leather to pick up dust on the cushion and tufts.
• To restore the wood and conceal scuff marks, I purchased Old English Scratch Cover for Light Wood. To use it, begin by applying the solution on a clean, white rag to the scratches and dents only. When it dries (in only a few minutes), apply the solution to the whole surface of the wood, continuing to add more of the scratch cover to your rag every few swipes. Make sure not to let it touch your rugs, upholstery, or other textiles.
• To repair the leather, I picked up Lexol Leather Conditioner, which is revered among furniture refinishers and autobody professionals. It extends the life of the leather by restoring oils and keeping it soft and supple. First, test it in an inconspicuous spot. Then, apply the solution to the entire surface of the leather with a clean cotton rag. Let it be absorbed for about 20 minutes. Then, buff off the solution with another clean rag, and voilà: conditioned as a whistle!

Last week, I gave you a preview of Rust-Oleum's new Cabinet Transformations, an easy, affordable product which beautifully and durably refinishes cabinetry and furniture. I tested it out myself on a recent trip to New Orleans, and I'm convinced it's the greatest thing since sliced bread for those who are looking to affordably update kitchens. But where there are avocado-colored kitchen cabinet doors to update, there's usually ugly laminate countertops to boot. So Rust-Oleum has also introduced Countertop Transformations, an equally simple and inexpensive way to transform your worn, damaged, or, more likely, dated countertops.

Considering that the average age of the American home is 35 years, there's about 1.4 billion sq. ft. of laminate in the country. Unfortunately, laminate isn't quite à la mode. In a survey, Rust-Oleum found that granite (followed by quartz) is the countertop material most coveted by Americans. So they created a DIY-friendly product to help homeowners get the look of natural stone for only $250. It's really fascinating how this product works, so read on to hear more about it.

One of the simplest ways to expand the visual height of a room is to paint your ceiling, as the effect draws the eyes upward. Unfortunately, I rarely see it done, so I thought I'd offer you a few tips and ideas for the task. (My inspiration was this beautiful living room in a house tour I just discovered.)

• If you want to really draw attention, paint tin ceiling tiles to add graphic interest.
• If you are painting a textured ceiling, buy a roller with a thick nap to make sure you get in all the nooks and crannies.
• Instead of painting your ceiling and crown molding the same color, use different shades to create contrast and accentuate the architectural details of your molding.
• Get yourself an extension handle so you can stand on the floor to paint instead of moving a ladder around the room. You can even use the end of a broom if the roller handle will accept it.
• Use a regular paint brush to paint what's called a "cut-in line" around the edge of the ceiling, where you'd have trouble painting with a roller.

Read on for five more tips!

Now that we've covered the question of what is dishwasher-safe, I thought I'd move on to an equally important subject: how to load your dishwasher. The task may seem like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised by how many people earn a capital F in Dishwashing 101— I'm talking to you, roommate. It also may seem like a trivial matter to some of you; as long as you can fit all the dirty plates in, it's OK, right? Err — no. The way you arrange your pots and spoons not only affects how well they're cleaned, but can be a deciding factor in whether they become tarnished, chipped, or even broken. So here's the lowdown on loading:

• Arrange your dishes by height, placing the larger ones on the outside. Turn all of your plates and bowls to face the middle of machine/dish drawer.
• Put wine glasses and other delicate glassware and dishes on the top rack. Face glassware downward if they fit, and leaning diagonally across two rows if not.
• Place small, round cereal bowls face-down on the top rack.
• Put pots, pans, and other heavy-duty dishes (like serving platters) on the bottom rack, where the water pressure and temperature are higher.
• Separate stainless steel and pure silver; if they touch, a chemical reaction can cause pitting and tarnishing.

Continue reading for more of these tips — and a few on unloading!