CasaSugar

Are You Cleaning House This Weekend?

CasaSugar — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 05:10:04 -0700

While I don't necessarily agree with this cheeky statement, I do think that everyone should make time to have fun and let loose a little bit. So what if you didn't get around to scrubbing that bathroom floor? Call your BFF and make a date for a movie. You'll be glad you did!

Source: Flickr User krisandapril

Open House: How Do You Pass the Time While Cleaning?

CasaSugar — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 05:30:00 -0700

Unless I'm in the mood to clean - hey, it happens sometimes! - I have to keep myself entertained while scrubbing the tub or sweeping the floor, lest I get bored and move on to something else. Sometimes I'll turn on some trashy TV, but I can't really do that when I'm cleaning the bathroom. So tell me: how do you pass the time when you're doing your household chores?

Study Reveals That Men Who Tidy Make the Ladies Happy

CasaSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:00:39 -0700

In another case of researching the obvious, an Oxford University study shows that women are more attracted to men if they believe they will help out with household chores and contribute equally with childcare. As a lucky woman whose husband does half the housework (and as a woman who has been in the opposite situation with boyfriends and housemates in the past), all I can say is: duh!

The study, which was reported in the Telegraph, examined heterosexual relationships in 13 countries, questioning 13,500 men and women between the ages of 20 and 45 from each country about gender, housework, and childcare responsibilities. Those sexy Swedes and Norwegians came out on top, with British men following in third place. The article notes:

Australian men – stereotyped for their love of beer, sport, and the great outdoors – came in last, rated as the least attractive in terms of pulling their weight around the house.

For the complete list, from best to worst, read more.

Sweden
Norway
Great Britain
United States
Northern Ireland
Netherlands
Republic of Ireland
Spain
New Zealand
Japan
Germany
Austria
Australia

Have You Hired a Housecleaning Service?

CasaSugar — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 06:15:47 -0700

While it may seem like a splurge, hiring a housecleaning service, even once a month, can really put a dent in your cleaning duties. Occasional housecleaning help is especially great for big jobs like scrubbing floors and bathrooms.

Casa Quickie: Add a Shot of Alcohol

CasaSugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 07:00:00 -0700

. . . Rubbing alcohol, that is. If you're mixing your own green cleaning products, you might find yourself slightly dissatisfied with the simple vinegar-and-water mix you're using for cleaning windows. The New York Times recently tested different window cleaning products, including mixing up some simple vinegar-and-water solutions. The tester, Stephen Treffinger, reports, "I tried several variations of a homemade white-vinegar-and-water mix, which did a good job at practically no cost. The one that proved most effective was one part vinegar to two parts of water. It was very runny, though, which meant I had to wipe quickly and vigorously with newspaper. A couple of tablespoons of rubbing alcohol added to the mix boosted its cleaning power and made it evaporate faster."

So, next time you mix up your own window washing solution, add a shot of rubbing alcohol to really add some oomph to your homemade window cleaning product.

Source

8 Easy Eco-Home Essentials

CasaSugar — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 09:00:46 -0800

If you have a New Year's resolution to live greener, then try starting with the simple stuff. Turning your home into an eco-friendly haven isn't hard. Here are eight essentials to add to your home arsenal to make your abode more green and clean.

View Slideshow ›

Casa Quickie: Pare Down to Speed Up

CasaSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:00:37 -0700

I found this helpful hint in the TeamSugar group Housecleaning Support Group. It makes so much sense, don't you think?

"Pare down. The less you own, the less you have to clean. Get rid of everything you don't love or need. Can't decide whether to ditch it or not? Put doubtful items into a box, tape it closed, and mark it "Deliver to [name of favorite charity] on [date six months in the future]." (Seasonal items should be earmarked for disposal in a year's time.) If you haven't had any reason to look inside the box when the "deliver by" date arrives, dispose of it. Do not under any circumstances take a last peek inside."

Source and Source

Before and After: From Jumbled to Wonderful

CasaSugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 09:15:37 -0700

TeamSugar member HarmonyFrance set out a few months ago to make a complete change to her living space. She was tired of her disorganized, messy, and jumbled home. Well, it's been a long journey, but she's made some incredible progress. Take, for example her "landing strip," which used to be covered with mail, keys, and assorted detritus in a big messy pile.

Here's what it used to look like:

To see what it looks like after some diligent work, just read more.

So lovely! This seems like a much more welcome way to come home at the end of the day, don't you think? Let's take a closer look at how she's organized things.

If, like HarmonyFrance, you've made some small (or big!) changes at your house, month, you should show off all of your home updates in my group on TeamSugar called Su Casa. What changes are you making?

Open House: What Are You Avoiding?

CasaSugar — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 05:31:00 -0700

We all have unfinished projects. Sometimes, if I make a list I can get most of those projects tackled, but inevitably, there's always some annoying task that eludes me. The latest bane of my household existence is the storage room off of our garage - we cleaned the garage, but piled anything we didn't want to deal with onto a shelf in the storage room. I know I need to clean it out, but it's really, really, really on the bottom of my priority list.
What about you? Do you have any projects or tasks that you're putting off? I bet you do . . . tell me all about it by leaving a comment!
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How-To: Assemble A DIY Home Cleaning Kit

CasaSugar — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:15:44 -0700

Do you love to keep your house so fresh and so clean, but don't like to use lots of toxic cleaners to get your home sparkling? Good news - you can use the same natural ingredients that your great-great-grandparents used to get their homes clean. Considering that DIY natural cleaners are up to 1/10 the cost of conventional cleaners, you'll also be saving a lot of money. Best of all, these cleaners are safer to use around children and pets than conventional cleaners, and won't compromise your home's indoor air quality. Take a look to see what supplies you'll need for your home-cleaning toolkit. And stay tuned, because I'll be bringing you a bunch of cleaning "recipes" to use.

Supplies

Washing soda
Baking soda
White distilled vinegar
Apple cider vinegar
Borax
A good liquid soap or detergent
Tea tree oil
lemon juice
olive oil
essential oils (for scenting your cleaner)
Spray Bottles
Glass Jars
carrying kit/bucket

You can assemble these ingredients yourself. Take a look at my widget to get an idea of where to buy some of these products.

Source