Tis the season for shoe purging in our home. Snow is in the forecast for the weekend, which means I have been frantically trying to dig out winter boots and put away summer sandals. Since our front entry closet doubles as a shoe and coat catch-all, I am very cognizant of my need to be as organized as possible, as one false placement could mean the unleashing of a flood of outwear. Before I store shoes for a given season I do a quick spot cleaning on the ones that need attention. For example, on my daughter’s summer canvas shoes … Continue reading →

A major part of fall cleaning involves outdoor living spaces. Deck and patio furniture need to be cleaned before they are stored for the winter. In a previous blog I provided tips on how to clean patio furniture cushions and today I am covering canvas. Canvas covers a ton of outdoor furniture, from awnings to seat cushions. Fortunately, the durable material is fairly easy to clean. Some popular canvas cleaners can be purchased at discount retailers or patio furniture supply shops. Look for Tectron Foaming Nylon and Canvas Cleaner, Meguiar’s Canvas Cleaner or Starbrite Canvas Cleaner. The specially formulated products … Continue reading →

I’m thoroughly enjoying this warm weather. Most evenings will find me on the back patio, reading or working in the yard until the sun goes does. Since I’ve been spending so much time out there I can’t help but notice how bad my outdoor furniture looks. I’m having a barbeque for to celebrate summer so it’s time to get the yard furniture in shape. Some furniture is easier to clean than others and since I’m a yard sale junkie my furniture is an eclectic mix of everything. The plastic furniture is the easiest to clean. Usually all I need to … Continue reading →

As a mom of a very craftaholic little girl who has used walls, carpet and clothing as her canvases in the past, I know a thing or two about stain removal. In fact, I consider myself a stain removal expert. My top commercial stain removal products (in no particular order) are: Orange Miracle Biz Stain Activated Booster Goo-Gone OxiClean Carbona Stain Devil Simple Green I’m sure there are a number of other excellent commercial stain removers on the market, but I tend to stick with ones that I have had good experiences with, and the aforementioned products have served me … Continue reading →