I don’t drink coffee. Ever. In fact, I don’t consume any caffeinated or carbonated beverages, which is why when the holidays roll around and guests are scheduled to arrive, I end up scrambling around. One of my first tasks is to dig out the coffeemaker. My second task is to clean the coffee pot. Typically, it’s an easy chore, but it can be a pain depending on how well the pot was cleaned before it was shoved back into the closet. My college roommate worked at IHOP when we were in school and she taught me a useful trick for … Continue reading →

Tis the season for dusting off the “good stuff.” If you are like me, then you only use your good china and/or silver during the holidays. This sad, but true fact is something I have tried to break free from, but alas, when you have young ones at home, using grandma’s cherished china every day is not really a viable option. With Thanksgiving just a few days away and Christmas right around the corner, now is the time to take a refresher course in how to clean the “good stuff.” If you only use your fine china and silver a … Continue reading →

Most of us can’t imagine living without our dishwashers. When the kitchen is a battle zone, the trusty dishwasher comes to the rescue. Did you know there are things you can do with your dishwasher besides wash dishes? Baseball caps clean up great in the dishwasher, they don’t get bent like they do in the washer, just don’t throw any dishes in with them because the food could get stuck in the fabric. All those little toys and action figures that your toddler is always sticking in his mouth, throw them in a lingerie bag and toss in the dishwasher. … Continue reading →

You know those hosts, who follow their drink-toting guests around the house with coasters, in order to preserve their wood surfaces? That was my grandma. My dear, sweet, beloved grandmother was deathly afraid of getting water stains on her wood furniture. She was especially fearful of black stains, which are indicative of water seeping beyond the finish and into the wood. There isn’t a homeowner around, who wants to deal with water stains, especially ones that damage furniture. However, there is some good news when it comes to water stains. If you treat them right away, there is a good … Continue reading →

Nothing ushers in the holiday season quite like scented candles. With a young child around the house, I’m not a huge fan of candles, but during the holidays I have been known to light gingerbread, evergreen, and spiced cranberry-scented candles to enhance our family celebrations. The downside to having your house smell like a Christmas tree farm is dealing with unexpected wax stains. Fortunately, cleaning candle wax is not a huge undertaking, provided you follow these tips: FABRIC Removing candle wax from cotton is fairly simple. While you should consult the care label before laundering, in most cases you can … Continue reading →