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Simple Products That Make Cleaning Your Home Easier

home, lifestyle

Simple Products That Make Cleaning Your Home Easier

There are so many great cleaning products out there, and there is nothing that you absolutely need, but if you struggle with the upkeep of your home for whatever reason, these gadgets and supplies can help you maintain your house with relative ease.

Robot Vacuum

Now, these are a bit pricey and they aren’t as good as running a full sized vacuum but, running this daily helps maintain your home so you can get away with deep cleaning your floors much less! 

I have one for our main floor and I will typically run this at night when we’re going to bed or first thing in the morning as we’re heading out the door. Then, you get the luxury of waking up in the morning to clean floors, or coming home to clean floors! You can always do both as it makes its way back to the charging station on its own. 

I’m planning to order another one for our upstairs once I decide what we are doing with the flooring.

$199

$399.95

$159 with $90 coupon on Amazon!

Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum

I have never enjoyed quick cleanups more. The Dyson V8 truly lives up to the hype. It is quick and effortless with an easy-to-empty canister, easy-to-clean filter, and sleek charging station. 

This is ideal for hardwood and tile floors as I don’t think it works well on carpets, but if you only have a small portion of carpet in your home this should suffice. The Dyson is a much quicker alternative to sweeping. With easy maneuverability it fits into tight spaces and under furniture easily. I also like to use it on our couches for a quicken freshening up. 

$422

10% off coupon on Amazon

Method All-Purpose Cleaners

I use the antibacterial for the kitchen which leaves a nice lemon scent. This is great for cleaning surfaces that have cooking residue and food scraps. I use the lavender scented all-purpose cleaner on almost all other surfaces, including the dining room table, coffee table, desk, and nightstands. 

It is non abrasive and also leaves a pleasant, clean scent. The spray bottle makes tidying up the house much faster and is perfect for the in-between deep-cleanings of your home.

Air Purifier

Air purifiers can be very useful in eliminating excess dust collection in your home. This can allow you to go a day or so longer in between dustings. Particularly if you have pets, these can be extremely helpful in limiting the dander they leave around the house. 

One con to these is you will essentially need one for every room however, prioritizing heavier traffic areas in your home would be the first step. 

Blue Air

$269.99

Levoit

$89.99

Dyson Pure Cool T01

$329.00

They also have other colors available on their direct website for $299.99. dyson.com

Steam Mop

I am in love with having a steam mop. It is effortless compared to a spin mop or regular mop. There’s no filling and dumping a basin, and if you have a Bissel, you can purchase the scented water that leaves behind a fresh smell for your floors.

I love using this in between deep cleans. I wet mop probably once a month and steam mop once or twice a week. They are so easy to use, and you simply toss the cover in the wash and can reuse countless times, therefore it’s eco friendly as well!

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Simple Deep Cleaning Schedule

lifestyle

Simple Deep Cleaning Schedule

Certain tasks don’t need to be done weekly or even monthly. I have broken down a list of quarterly, semiannually, and yearly household and maintenance tasks that you should do. 

Quarterly

  • Change out toothbrushes
  • Replace air filter
  • Fridge cleanout
  • Other filters (fridge, water filter, etc)

Semiannually

  • Dust light fixtures
  • Vacuum out dryer vent
  • Deep clean oven
  • Clean dishwasher
  • Clean washing machine and dryer
  • Clean mattress

Yearly

  • AC / Furnace yearly service
  • Clean underneath refrigerator and oven
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Simple Updates That Make a New House Feel Like Home

home

Simple Updates that Make a New House Feel Like Home

Moving into a new house can feel uncomfortable, possibly dirty if it’s not a brand new home. Even a new build can feel sterile and unwelcoming. With an existing residence there are some key changes you can make that will freshen up the space and make it feel more like home.

Paint

Painting rooms in your home can give it that fresh smell that makes it feel cleaner. There is something about a fresh coat of paint that makes an old room feel like new. This also gives you a chance to start building your own design for a space. Starting with the bedroom can be particularly helpful since where you sleep is where you want to feel the most comfortable. Choosing a calm, neutral color for spaces, unless you already have a color scheme planned, will allow you to settle in and can always be changed later.

Deep Clean

A good deep clean before and after you unload furniture and boxes (and after you paint) makes a home feel fresh. A good, deep clean. Whether you do it yourself or hire it out, cleaning out all cabinets, windows, floors, every nook and cranny, allows you to move in and set up your stuff with less stress.

Scents

Scents are comforting. They can fill a room, or an entire house with an aroma that brings comfort and clarity. Lighting a candle or putting on a diffuser and relaxing in your new space can provide serenity and bring back sensations from your previous home, generating those same memories in your new one.

Linens

Fresh linens (new or cleaned) and textiles bring your textures, comfort, and style into your new home. Getting into a freshly made bed or pulling up your comfy blanket over you while watching your favorite show with a glass of wine, is the epitome of being “home”.

Plants

Plants can purify the air, particularly helpful after moving a bunch of boxes and furniture and cleaning up a space. It should also be noted here that changing out the air filter is also a great idea when you first move into a place! Plants also can feel like children to some people (me,,,) and setting them up around your home can truly make your home feel put together in ways that organizing down the line just might.

These simple tasks and additions will truly make you feel more at home in your new space. For some simple home upgrades you can make for a huge impact, read the post Simple Home Updates for a Big Impact.

5 Easy Tips to Simplify Your Finances

lifestyle

5 Easy Tips to Simplify Your Finances

Understand a rough 3-month budget for you and your family. Take a look at your last three months of expenses and determine your average expenditures. Then follow these easy steps to simplify your finances.

Debt Consolidation / Lower Interest Rates

Consolidate as much debt as you can at the lowest interest rate possible or try to lower all of your interest rates. Pay the absolute maximum you can afford. Whether this is auto loans, student loans, credit card debt, etc.

Automate Bills

  • Automate all your bills and credit card payments
  • Set everything up to autopay 
  • Pay off your credit cards every month – you can set your autopay to pay the total balance on the card

High-Yield Savings Account

Set up a high-yield savings account with automatic funding at a bank separate from where you hold your checking account. This makes it that much harder to pull money out.

You have to be very intentional when you transfer money out of your savings account, plus it typically takes a couple of days to transfer. Thus, you should be less likely to pull from it for frivolous spending.

Emergency Fund

Establish a 6-month emergency savings fund. You never know when the water heater might break, you lose your job, you need to replace your furnace or A/C, or a large veterinary bill or medical bill comes up. Be prepared. If the fund is established, when something happens, you will be much less stressed knowing you have a substantial safety net.

Roth IRA

Suppose you don’t have one already, set up a Roth IRA and begin contributing up to $500 per month. You can contribute up to $6,000/year. There are rules to this depending on your income but if you are within the threshold you absolutely want to set up this retirement account. I have my contribution set up to automatically pull from mine and my husband’s checking accounts every month.

Automation gives you the opportunity to tackle the first step in budgeting. Understand where your money needs to go, and how much. After, you can allocate the leftover to anything else you need or want.

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Simple Additions to Make a Guest Bedroom Luxurious

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Simple Additions to Make a Guest Bedroom Luxurious

If you haven’t read my post Simple Guest Bedroom Must Haves, that will lay the foundation for a perfect guest room. However, if you are looking to class things up even further, read below for products and tips to create a luxurious oasis for your guests.

Candle and Matchsticks

100 Matchsticks – $16

Matchstick holder – $24

Fresh Linen Candle – $17

Blackout Curtains or Shades

Sleeping in is a luxury that vacations afford, therefore you don’t want the early morning light streaming in through your guest’s window and waking them up before they’re well and ready. Installing some blackout shades or curtains gives your guest the luxury of not being woken up at first light. 

Velvet Blackout – $50

Rod Pocket Back Tab – $53

Textured Linen Blackout – $40

Robes and Slippers

The ultimate luxury. A plush robe and possibly even slippers will truly make your guest feel like they are visiting a resort or high-end hotel. Make sure they are easy to clean and be prepared to lose the slippers by the end of your guests stay with you. 

Luxury Microfiber – $97

Long Waffle Kimono – $28

Terrycloth – $40

10 Pairs Hotel Slippers – $29

Dresser or Wardrobe

Having a dedicated space for your guest to unpack their clothes allows them to settle in comfortably instead of living out of their suitcase. If you have a suitable closet with shelving already, that will work perfectly for hanging and folded items. Having a dresser if there is limited closet space is a great alternative. Always ensure you have hanging space somewhere, whether that is in a closet or a travel hanging rod for any garments that cannot be folded.

Treats / Chocolates

Lindt chocolates are always a safe bet, however sourcing something from a local shop in your area is a nice touch. Ensure the packaging is beautiful (if not, add your own) and place them in a space where sunlight won’t cause any overheating and melting. Some ideas include chocolate turtles, small bags of popcorn, cupcakes, cookies, and trail mix are just a few ideas. Always keep in mind the amount of crumbs you are willing to have spilled in your guest room or how tidy your guest might be. 

200 Plastic Gift Bags – $9

1/8in Satin Ribbon – $7

100 Paper Gift Tags – $6

High-End Toiletries

High-end toiletries are truly luxurious. Have you ever stayed at a hotel or been someone’s guest and they have extremely high-end toiletries? I get so excited to try new products on my hair. Ensuring you have clean facial products, cleansers, and moisturizers that are suitable for sensitive skin is important. You never know what skin type your guest might have, so ensuring they are non-abrasive will be a great crowd pleaser.

Oribe Gold Lust Repair + Restore Shampoo – $49

Oribe Gold Lust Repair + Restore Conditioner – $52

Necessaire Body Wash – $33

Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Creme – $52

Fresh Flowers

Always finish off a space with fresh flowers before your guests arrive. Even leaving a small note saying you are so happy to have them staying with you is the perfect final touch.

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Simple Ways To Decorate For Halloween

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Simple Ways to Decorate for Halloween

Decorating for the holidays is always fun, but storing decorations for the rest of the year…not so much. Simplifying your decorations can allow you to save precious storage space while maintaining the holiday spirit.

Pumpkins

Whether purchasing from the grocery store or venturing to the pumpkin patch, real pumpkins are a great staple, and if left uncarved, they can last a really long time depending on your climate.

You can also buy them in varying sizes and colors to create beautiful displays on a front porch, tablescape, or coffee table.

@megan.d.miller

Mums

A beautiful flower that truly screams FALL IS HERE! Varying colors and sizes you can spruce up any space and they are not too expensive. There are some mums that are perennials and you can keep in pots over winter. If you have a green thumb and are diligent with your plants, you can keep them for years to come and save yourself a little money every fall on potted flowers. 

Check out this article by Better Homes and Gardens on How to Grow Mums in Containers.

A fall front porch
The Lilypad Cottage

Stick on Bats and Spiders

These stick on bats are so cute and I think they are a trend that will stay for a while! They store very easily and the only thing you may need to purchase in subsequent years are extra stickies!

Decorating around an entryway mirror, bookshelves, or a window are fun ways to add a spooky but tasteful touch. 

Havenly Hideaway

Candles

Again, easy to store or they smell decadent and you burn them up through the holiday. There are so many different styles, black tapered candlesticks, columnar candles for a coffee table or dining room centerpiece, they even have gorgeous skull shaped candles that are very fun. 

Using a gold tray or black tray that you can use after the holiday is also a great way to repurpose decor but make it festive.

Style Me Pretty

Artwork

An extremely simple way to decorate without bringing more bulky items into your house is to purchase some halloween, spooky prints that you can easily swap out your existing artwork with. If you have a gallery wall or any pictures on the wall in frames, quickly swapping the photos or existing prints out with holiday themed art is a classy and festive touch!

Macabreheart via reddit
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