Friday, July 25, 2008

FGF - Picture Frame

WE HAVE A WINNER!
Random.org picked Comment #44
Congratulations to William and Megan!
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:44
Timestamp: 2008-07-28 12:37:33 UTC
Soooo....we have TONS of really great gifts being donated for the upcoming Free Giveaway Fridays, so be sure to check them out over the next few weeks!
If you have something you make, sell, or want to share as a giveaway with free promotion to your business, we'd love to feature you on a Free Giveaway Friday!
_________________________________________________________
It's FREE GIVEAWAY FRIDAY!
my favorite day of the week :)


In case you can't tell from my blog, I love pictures. I have at least one on every post. Our home is full of pictures of people who are important to us. They make our home look beautiful!


This week's giveaway is a Beautiful, Cute Picture Frame!


Thank you, Callie for this wonderful prize that one lucky person will inherit this week! Black goes with everything, and according to the top interior decorators, you should always have at least one black piece in every room, no matter what the room colors are.

Wanna win?
Of course you do :)


Rules:
1) Leave me a comment answering the question below. One comment per person, please!

2) Please mention my giveaway and blog link on your blog!!! If you do so, you may leave ONE more comment on my page for an extra chance to win!!

3) Winner will be posted Monday morning at 9 am. You have until 8 am Monday morning to enter to win! I will use random.org to pick a comment number winner.

4) Tell alllllll your lovely friends to enter for a chance to win! Who doesn't want to win an awesome gift like this?
Question:
What is your favorite household cleaning tip?

49 lovely comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, "Just do it!" came to mind...but I think my favorite tip would be...not so much the products I use...but the attitude of my heart. Thankful that I have a floor to clean, there are those who live and sleep on dirt floors. Thankful that I have so many windows to wash...so we all can see the beauty of the pond, birds, sky, and such things. And finally,...listening to praise and worship music while I clean...makes the time fly! :D

I use to be an "every FRIDAY gal" is cleaning day...but now...I clean when I can...to survive and try to keep as picked up as possible. :D

I LOVE the picture frame! Hope to win! I could use something to sport our 3 lovely ladies and their handsome hubbies in! Thankful to Callie for donating such a great prize!

Must go...and clean...since you will be stopping by on Saturday! :D Loved our quick talk this a.m.! Love, mom oxoxoxoxoxox

Anonymous said...

Cute picture frame!

Hmm, favorite household cleaning tip, huh. Well, I haven't actually put this one into practice myself, but my boss does this at home and at the office. He (yes, he):) has a different towel for every type of cleaner and every type of wood or surface. They are more than towels - they are like shammies that are really soft and don't damage the surface. He even labeled them with marker - things like, "Wood polish" or "Glass" - it's amazing! I made fun of him until I used one to clean my desk and it was awesome. I don't know where to get the shammies but I think it's a great idea!
Jess Hooley

The Shillingburg's said...

Housecleaning...I hate it. Luckily I married an amazing man who is much better at it than me and has helped me become more of a cleaner. It's amazing how fast clutter builds up with a two year old. Little Ben is like his dad and even sings the clean up song when he's picking up his toys. So cute...I guess my tip is to have a willing heart. And I agree with the "just do it" comment.

The Shillingburg's said...

Second comment!

William, Megan and Avery said...

Let's see... I loathe cleaning... but I love for things to be clean (it's a problem, I know)! My tip is this: buy clorox or lysol wipes! They're fantastic and they keep you from having to "deep clean" the kitchen and bathroom nearly as often! I also use them at work to wipe down toys in between kids to keep them germ-free!

My second tip: if you don't know how to get something out of something, call my mother-in-law :)

Sweet Simplicity said...

I love magic erasers! They do amazing things!

Anonymous said...

If you have not used something for 1 year either throw it away, sell it at a garage sale or give it to good will. Do not leave it around the house to pile up or else you will be living like a pack rat.

Stev

Db & Em said...

When I am cleaning I get in a mood, just do it fast and get it done! But I have to step back and realize that God gave me this house and the mess to clean up so I need to be thankful and greatful. Know with a 10 month old I am trying to get in the mood of picking up or vacuuming every do so things do not get so bad. The last thing I want to do on Sunday afternoon is clean the entire house!

MereinSC said...

I used magic erasers on everything... walls, sinks, dishes, bathroom, everything. I don't know how they work but they are amazing.

Anonymous said...

Having 4 preschoolers and a mommy that LOVES a clean house you have to be a little creative and use as many hands as possible! My tip is....do 1 load of laundry a day (this way laundry won't pile up and you won't have to go by more underwear at Walmart) and make cleaning a fun game for your kiddo's! My kids LOVE cleaning days! They each get gloves and clean my windows with those little Windex Wipes or wipe down counters with the Clorox Wipes! Woo Hoo Wipes! :o) Angie Yeats...aka...mommy of 4

Expat No. 3699 said...

Magic erasers are great, but the products I highly recommend is:

Dawn Power Disolver
Cuts grease in minutes and is a miracle cleaner on baked, burnt on grease, and burnt on food. Use on pots & pans, stovetops, grills, etc.

Elizabeth Glass-Turner said...

Once every few months put away the Swiffer and mop your kitchen floor on your hands and knees. Not only will the difference amaze you, but it's a highly stress-relieving task - good for the soul, too!

Pleasant Living said...

I try to clean something each day and pick up clutter each day. That way, I don't get overwhelmed when company is coming. This breaks the job into managable, realistic goals. You know that old saying, "Inch by inch it's a cinch!"

Ms. Shaeffer's Superstars said...

I don't know if I'd consider it a tip, but I think the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is the best thing ever invented :).

Whitney said...

Clean a little bit each day! And when you get something out - put it up! Those are my tips. :) Great ones, huh?

Hey, I gave you a bloggie award! :) Pick it up on my blog!!

Stacy said...

This is a laundry tip. When your husband drips grease on his work shirts (and it is always him, not me :) ) get your dish soap out and squirt on grease spots. Make sure it doesn't have bleach in the soap, learned that one the hard way.

Sarah Rose said...

I am just now learning some great cleaning tips... and I think the best tip I've got is to get into a routine. We have everyday "maintenance" chores like sweep the kitchen, scrub the counters, swish the bathroom, etc... and then we have "weekly" chores -- the more typical housecleaning type things.
I'm not good enough to stick to a Monday is laundry, Tuesday is dusting type schedule... so I just make sure I hit the majors every week. It has proven to be really helpful!
Also, I employ a little set of hands... which is always fun, if not always super helpful!

Meg said...

My tip is to look Merry Maids up in the phone book and hire them ASAP. Magic workers.

mommamia said...

Magic earsers will take crayon off wood floors, doors and walls. I know this thanks to my grandson. The picture frame is wonderful and I'd love to win.

Thank you for hosting the giveaway and Callie for the prize.

bookworm said...

Stay away from all the pricey cleaners on the market today. I've found that plain old vinegar and water cleans up better than most. It doesn't smell as good, but it's more natural.

Chris Flora said...

my favorite cleaning tip is plug the vacuum cleaner into one outlet to clean the whole house.

Sara Laverty said...

i swear by the magic eraser!
its really magic! :)

Karen said...

I just found your blog from the Cotton Wife. What a fun place this is. My cleaning tip is....... The more the kids play outside, the less there is to clean.

SSSQ said...

Since I work a 50 -60 hour work week, my “cleaning day” is on Saturday. I have learned that if you are cleaning the entire house in one day…you tend to get “distracted” as you go from room to room….. So I gather all I need and head to the room I am currently cleaning. If something is there that belongs someplace else, I put it beside the door to take to the place it belongs AFTER I am done cleaning that room. When the room is finished, I then take all the trash, items or whatever else out and put them away. Then I move on the next room and do the same thing. I have found that this really does save me time…. :)
~jaime

In Definition said...

i also like to clean one room at a time....it is motivating to me to see a room completely cleaned...and then move on from there. that way if i dont have time to finish...i just pick up at the room where i left off.

Unknown said...

I never leave a room without taking something with me that belongs in the room where I'm headed. With 2 young kids, that has helped contain the clutter monster. I love picture frames, too! We have pictures everywhere (mostly of our beautiful children!). I hope I win!

Unknown said...

I'm really glad I found your blog because you giveaway such cool stuff! I made a post on my blog about your giveaway and I hope I win!

Claremont First Ward said...

Oh my goodness you have an adorable blog design. My cleaning tip.......keep up with it or it gets overwhelming.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by my blog so that I could discover yours. I look forward to more visits!

Unknown said...

My best tip is to take 30 minutes before you go to bed and do a quick run through on the house - vacuum - pick everything up that was left out - so when you wake up - the house is ready to go for the day - you can get a lot done in 30 min.

Beth said...

I think the 27 comments you already have pretty much said what I was going to (attitude of the heart -- that is so true, magic erasers -- they really are magic!, etc)... except I did have one more thing to offer -- buy a Roomba! We just purchased one since vacuuming is my absolute least favorite chore ever. It was pricey, but so worth it. Now that Roombie does my least favorite chore, I don't mind keeping up with everything else!

Really, though -- and it's been said already -- the trick is maintenance. I try to do at least one to two things each day -- a load of laundry here, wipe down the bathroom there, change the sheets here -- it keeps it from piling up and me from feeling so overwhelmed.

My confession? I like cleaning. Especially dishes. I can't explain it -- I just so enjoy it. Just don't make me vacuum, please!

Oh, and Meg -- your comment cracked me up. Merry Maids -- surely the best cleaning tip!! :)

Rachel said...

My husband and I have started cleaning our apartment together on Saturday mornings. It gets us up early, we get it done, and then have the rest of our Saturday to spend together!

We always end of picking to do the same chores each week. He cleans the bathrooms, dusts, and irons our clothes for the week. I clean the kitchen, vacuum, and go to the grocery store. We both do the laundry throughout the week as needed.

My favorite cleaning tip would be to suprise your husband sometime and do the chore (that he normally does) that takes him the longest to complete. For my husband it is the ironing. I love getting to suprise him and have our clothes already ironed for him. I think he really appreciates it! We always strive to find little ways to serve each other and one way I have found to serve him is to help him out around the house!

The picture frame is very cute! I am really good friends with Laura Reynolds and we go to church with you and your husband.

Anonymous said...

my tip is to try and use non-toxic cleaners (method, seventh generation or just use vinegar)! hope i win! =)

Sandra said...

I just found you as I was wandering around blogland today.

My cleaning tip? www.flylady.net
Even though cleaning has never been a problem for me, it was for my children. With her helping, I was able to get them to see that really 15-30 minutes each and everyday will keep the house clean.

Oh, and get rid of clutter. If you don't love it or use it, get rid of it.

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

I really don't need another pic frame since I just picked up a ton from Good Will to paint. Just wanted to comment that I am a first time visitor and have really enjoyed your creative format. So if you see someone who was on for oh...at least 30 minutes...that was me. Hats off to you.:)

jeffsgal212 said...

Just read this in "Real Simple," but it's a great idea! When doing messy home improvement projects where dust can get into places you don't need it (open vents for example), cover those open places with Glad Press & Seal! I was thinking even using it to cover surfaces when you're painting. This really isn't an every day kind of tip, though...

Let's see - how about using a lint brush on little carpet messes? I hate when I've just vaccumed and somebody spills a few crumbs. A few swipes with the lint brush, and voila! No more crumbs!!!

Squirty Wart said...

This is more a "laundry cleaning" tip. Does that count?

If you get ink pen scribbles on a clothing peice (don't know about a whole busted ink pen) spray it with hairspray right before throwing it in the wash.

Also, if you get food grease stains on your clothes (front of shirt), spot treat with Dawn dish detergent right before throwing in the wash. Even if the item has already been washed and dried a few times this really does the trick. Best part, one less cleaning supply to have to remember to buy and store.

Shala said...

For my windows and mirrors I use a spray bottle, put in 1/3 cup white (clear) vinegar and 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol. If you have to have another cleaner, add 1 tablespoon automatic dishwashing detergent.

Works amazingly!

Amy said...

My favorite cleaning tip would be those Mr. Clean Magic Erasers. They clean everything. My daughter drew on her white shoes with a red pen. I used the eraser on it and they came out looking brand new. There is no end to what you could use them on.

Amy said...

This is my second comment for a second chance to win the picture frame, it's lovely. I posted about your contest on my blog! Have a great day!

Naz said...

Clean your counters, table tops with peroxide to kill germs andleave afresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, orspray iton the counters. Also after rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.

Claire said...

I have 3 little girls, ages 6, 3 & 9 months, so cleaning up the kids is a big chore in itself. My favorite thing to do in the summer is a "night swim". About 30 minutes before bed, all the kids go out and swim around, then they come in, put on pj's, brush teeth and go to sleep. Its much more fun than a bath, and for the most part, in the summer we just get up and start playing again, so I don't worry too much about missing out on soap a couple of times a week!

Plus, if Dad is home he can watch them in the pool while I actually clean up inside!

Alison Mayes said...

I don't have any tips but my faorite thing isusing air freshner and carpet freshner often to give the house a nice clean feeling.

Anonymous said...

I break the house into zones and do a different zone each day of the week, except for Sunday. That's my day off. It makes it so much more manageable to do a little each day and it's not nearly as overwhelming.
doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
Elizabeth

William, Megan and Avery said...

second entry!

Ripley F. :-) said...

CLEANING???? Oh gosh, I have to say that my favorite cleaning tip is actually pretty much an organizing tip. Get lots of shelves and files, and put things in there. I have many shelves and bookcases and I put stuff on it, and my room looks more organized!!

Ripley F. :-) said...

Second Chance!!
Love the frame....

Naz said...

I'd like a second chance too.
:-)

Aunt Julie said...

hmmmmm...household cleaning? What's that? OK, just kidding! Vinegar dipped in newsprint (as in the front page of your local daily) cleans windows the best! Seriously! BTW, did you hear about our campaign to e-mail Oprah about Uncle Lynn & Pop'rs? The SITStas even got in on the act! Please drop by and see what's happening in Aunt Julie's neck o' the woods!

Ripley F. :-) said...

I was 1 off!! But congrats, William and Meg.

Baby Ticker

 Pregnancy Ticker