Cleaning and Organization Tips

Everywhere is still in a mess right now as Taurus Man and I are in the middle of our baby preparations. I'm back in bed after pushing myself a little too much with laundry two days ago, and still feeling the repercussions. I feel like such a wuss. Taurus Man is distracted by the new red fire ants infestation in the kittens' sleeping area and is trying one thing after another to clear it up while the kittens spend their days with me in bed, and nights blocked up on the couch on the other side of the room.

All that aside, once I have the energy and willpower to get up and go, I usually have this place spic and span. Over the years I've learned some things from experience (i.e. trial and error), other housewives, reading newspaper/magazine articles, and of course, the internet. Here are some of my super awesome, incredibly excellent tips:

If you don't have any old spray bottles from old cleaning products (think Windex and 409 for example), then make the sacrifice and buy some. I bought a three-pack enviro spray whats-it set, and although I'll admit an old Windex or 409 bottle would have worked wonders against the sticking spray nozzle from these, it gets the job done. I have three basic multi-purpose cleaning sprays:

Clorox Cleaning Solution: There are many reasons I don't like using clorox or bleach straight out of the bottle. I have super sensitive skin that cuts and bleeds and gets rashes easily, fur babies that like licking things off of any surface they see, I generally don't like the smell of clorox, I like to be able to stay in the room I'm cleaning with the ability to breathe and continue cleaning, and you never know if a little kid or someone with sensitive skin or some kind of allergy might come over. But sometimes, my other sprays aren't strong enough and I don't have the time to let one of the other sprays soak in, or there's a mess that needs hardcore  antibacterial action immediately, etc. Add clorox and water to your spray bottle at a 1:1 ratio. That's it. It's still pretty concentrated for me, but as a precaution, wear gloves if you can and keep the area ventilated.

General Cleaning Solution: This one is by far my favorite and the one I use most. It's cheap, good for the environment, cleans just about anything off of any surface, doesn't carry as high a scent as clorox, and is safe enough for my skin and fur babies. Add a 1:1 solution of regular distilled white vinegar and water, leaving a few inches of empty space at the top. Add 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda and seal tightly. If you add the baking soda first, you'll have an immediate volcanic eruption of the ingredients on your hands. Adding it after reduces the amount of frothy fizz that escapes the bottle. Let it settle, and give it a good shake before using it. I use this on EVERYTHING. Even my cutting boards (I have one board designated for meat and one for veggies) as an antibacterial precaution. I spray my boards with it before washing and in between uses when I'm cutting up different veggies or meats and don't have the time or space to wash after each veggie/meat. On hard to clean stains, I spray and let it soak in before scrubbing. After Christmas, birthdays, or any day that I'm left with cake pans, baking trays, and the like, I spray some of this on before I dump the dishes in the sink to help loosen up whatever is stuck to the dish and make washing easier. I also give a spray to my dish-washing sponge and cleaning cloth in between uses and washes for an extra cleaning oomph as well as an antibacterial thing. After each cleaned spill, I spray this and give an extra wipe of the surface as well. It keeps bugs and germs away, is gentle on your skin, nose, and pocket, and makes cleaning easier too.

Pesticide/Soapy Solution: This one is also very simple. Squeeze in some dish-washing liquid or detergent, and fill 3/4 of the way with water. Give the bottle a good shake, and once the suds have settled, add more water as you wish. This is not only a cleaning solution, but works as an eco-friendly daily pesticide for my organic garden as well. I use this on surfaces I want to wash without lugging around a bucket of suds or standing in a pool of sudsy water, and also as a quick eco-friendly way to kill ants. They can't swim in the suds and they drown. It doesn't get any simpler than that.


HANDY THINGS TO HAVE AROUND THE HOUSE:

A cleaning cloth: When I was growing up, we used washcloths and cut up pieces of old clothing to clean. While that works fine, I prefer Scotchbrite cleaning cloths. They usually come in packs of 5 in either yellow, green, or pink, and each pack can last me more than a year. I disinfect them and dish-washing sponges once a week and clean the microwave at the same time by filling a microwaveable bowl half-way with a 2:1 vinegar and water solution and placing the cloth in the bowl and microwaving it for a minute and thirty seconds. For tough microwave stains, I'll go up to two minutes. Experiment to see how long and at what strength this works with your microwave. Afterwards, I wring the cloth dry and use the same bowl of water to rinse it as I wipe down the microwave. The microwave was basically steam cleaned and only needs a good wiping down. I change the bowl of water to a bowl half filled with water and a drop of vinegar, and microwave again for a minute. I get rid of that water and continue cleaning. The dirt and grime from the cloth is released into the bowl of water as it's heated and it kind of sterilizes the cloth or sponge. With every sink-ful of dishes, I wash the cloth with my soapy solution before and after the dishes and every round of cleaning, and also spritz it with my general cleaning spray throughout the day as I clean. On a busy day, I can even toss the cloth in the washing machine and it comes out fine.

Rubber gloves: You can choose to get the big boxes with disposable latex gloves, or the big yellow kitchen gloves. I opt for the yellow gloves. It's extra money to put out and though I was raised to clean without gloves, I've found it can be necessary. There are some messes you just don't want to stick your bare hands and fingernails in. Sometimes you don't have time to scrub the muck out from under your nails and scrub your hands raw. It comes in handy, trust me. In addition to super nasty messes, there are some products that should never come into contact with your skin, like stove and oven cleaners or toilet cleaners. When I was growing up, I handled all products without gloves, and before getting the gloves myself, I had started using plastic bags over my hands. The gloves are way easier and safer, trust me. Although there's a big old "disposable" right on the outside of the pack, Taurus man and I re-use them. As long as you clean them properly in-between uses, I don't see why not. As soon as you see some wear and tear, change them right away. That's all.

Gardening gloves: I love dirt. I love the smell and feel of it. But if you're gardening, even if you've bought manure and potting soil and planted your green babies yourself, worms, snails, centipedes, millipedes, caterpillars and the like are bound to happen. I have no problem with worms, snails, or caterpillars, but I can never remember which insects are dangerous and which aren't. I dig up some soil with my little gardening spoon/spade and once I see anything crawling around in there, I get my gloves on. If ants are happening, pesticide or no pesticide, it's better to be safe than sorry. I also use my gardening gloves to take particularly difficult fish off my fish hook when fishing and to protect my hands when moving heavy furniture or glass and the like. I wouldn't deem it absolutely necessary, but I'm glad I have it as it comes in pretty handy. Taurus Man doesn't mess around my garden but is considering getting himself a pair because it comes in so handy.

Tools: I love tools. I used to take out my dad's toolbox and play with his tools as a child, and when I found a mini screwdriver set in the closet, it became my personal mission to walk around the house taking screws out of things and putting them back in. Right now I don't have as much tools, but I highly recommend keeping at least a few on hand. I have a hammer, screwdrivers (phillips-head and flat-head), pliers, some other pliers-type thing I'm not sure about, a rechargeable drill, and a few types of nails and screws from past projects with Taurus Man. Taurus Man also has a level and knows how to use the whatchamacallit tools in Cancer Grump's wood workshop downstairs when he gets a chance to go down there. All of these things are very important and are regularly used. Hammers and screwdrivers aren't only for nails, and I actually keep my pliers in the bathroom to turn the faucet by the concrete washtub on and off because it scrapes my fingers if I try to turn the knob with just my hands. The drill has come in very, very, very handy. If it's one thing I suggest you have on hand, it's a drill. It doesn't have to come in a set with a hundred other things or be the best brand name out there. Once it works, and works well, and you can use it, that's all you need. I don't go to any house without having some tools. If there are no tools there, I try to find a mini tool set to keep on hand for emergencies. Trust me, it's important.

Mop, mop bucket, broom, scoop, handheld brush, scrubbing brush: In my book, all of these things go together. These were among the first things Taurus Man and I bought when we got married. Be sure to wash and clean them regularly and they can last longer than you'd expect.  Once you keep them on hand, you'll realize that there's more than one use for each of them and you'll be glad to have them on hand. These are must-haves anywhere I go and makes life a helluva lot easier.

Scrubbing brush, pot scrubber, dish-washing sponge, all with handles and removable heads: I'm sure you've seen at least one of these at the grocery or pharmacy or variety store. These are not mandatory, but man, do they make life easier. Sometimes dishes are left in the sink for longer than you'd like to admit. Maybe the sink hasn't been cleaned and got mildew-y. Whatever the case, sometimes you really don't want to stick your hands and your little dish-washing sponge in there. We've all had to wash that dish that gunks up the sink and dish-washing sponge and makes our stomach churn to clean it because we have to use the same sponge that got gunked up for other dishes. I use the pot scrubber for the gunk in pots and metal trays, the scrubbing brush for basically everything, and I give everything a second wash with my un-gunked dish-washing sponge after the gunk has been cleaned off by the pot scrubber or scrubbing brush. That handle makes it way easier and faster. Be sure that you can find replacement heads for the one(s) you choose to buy. It would kind of suck to fall in love with one and not be able to replace it when it's time to say goodbye. As always, clean them regularly and they will last!

Old toothbrushes: When you change your toothbrushes every 3-6 months, don't throw them out! Keep them on hand to clean tile and grout, scrub vegetables, clean guts out of crab bellies, get into nooks and crannies, scrub sneakers, etc. You'll find way more uses for them than you expect. Keep them with your cleaning supplies and label each one for its purpose so they don't get mixed up. I doubt you want your sneakers smelling like crab guts or your veggies smelling like a cleaning product! I also set aside old toothbrushes with the really nice rubber handles for my fur babies to gnaw on when they're teething. Hyper doggy is no longer teething (I think), but she actually uses her toothbrushes to brush her own teeth and clean her gums. There's no extra expense, just don't throw them out! Clean them thoroughly after each use to make them last, and throw them out when they've been worn out.

Masking tape: I started keeping masking tape on hand when I did Technical Drawing in high school. Our list of school supplies included a roll of masking tape. We ripped off pieces to stick our papers to our drawing desks. It was sticky enough to keep the paper still and stick it down to the desk, but weak enough for us to pull it off without ripping the paper or leaving sticky marks on our drawing surfaces. After doing the class for two years before writing (and passing :D) my exams, even as I used the tape for miscellaneous things, I still did not use out that roll of tape. It's not expensive, and one roll lasts a ridiculously long time. I use it to label everything from ziploc bags in the fridge and freezer to bags of clothes I parcel out to stow away. I also use it to label all my cleaning supplies and any unmarked bottles or containers around the house, especially medicine. Not mandatory, but cheap, effective, and long-lasting!

Ziploc bags and small clear plastic bags: This comes in particularly handy in the kitchen. This is one of my grandest secrets for fridge and freezer organization. Whenever we buy groceries, I empty everything out on the kitchen counters and dining room tables. I wash all my produce, dry them, and place each type of fruit or veggie in their respective ziploc bags lined with a paper towel to keep the moisture out, squeeze all the air out, seal, and label (with my tape) according to what's inside and what date it was bought. This keeps everything fresher for longer, especially greens and herbs and seasoning, and allows you to store more than you would have been able to, keeps things neat and orderly, and makes it super easy to find what you're looking for. With fish, I separate them by slices or fillets into cooking portions, wash them with lime to cut the bloody freshness and fishiness, pat dry with paper towels, squeeze all the air out in their respective parceled out ziploc bags, and label with the type of fish, the way I cut it, and the date it was bought. There are a couple ways I handle chicken. If I've bought chicken parts or decide to parts off the chicken, I clean it by cutting off the excess skin (since Taurus Man's heart attack I remove ALL the skin), cut off all the fat, clean out all the guts, peel  off the yellow scaly thing on the gizzard and chicken feet, cut off the toes on the feet and tips on the wings, and separate the parts as I like i.e.  breasts and thighs, leaving the thighs and legs or wings and breasts attached to each other, etc. I usually separate it by parts e.g. breasts, thighs, wings, legs, and parcel them as such. I wash the parts with lime to cut the freshness and pat them dry with paper towels before bagging them, then squeeze the air out of their respective bags (this keeps the items fresher for longer by reducing the amount of air it's exposed to, in case you were wondering) and label according to parts and date. Regardless of how I deal with the chicken, I take the chicken skin, fat, guts, and unwanted parts, and parcel it off into small clear plastic bags portioned and labeled out for dog food. FYI, A simple dog food recipe: the refused parts of the chicken boiled with rice. The oils released from the skin and fat are actually good for them and adds flavor to the pet rice. Don't add too much water as you let the water cook down with the rice and parts. Hyper Doggy loves it! If I'm parts-ing off the chicken by leg, thigh, breast, wing and such, I add the liver, gizzard, chicken butt, and all their accomplices to the dog food bag. If I'm cutting up the chicken smaller than that, i.e. for stewing, currying, and the like, I include the liver if my anemic ass is eating meat (chicken liver is super rich in iron), and the gizzard for Taurus Man instead of leaving it for Hyper Doggy. The other way I deal with the chicken is by leaving it whole. Before Taurus Man's heart attack, I would prepare it as I'm about to explain and just cut off any excess fatty skin and leave the rest of the skin on. Since the heart attack though, I've started to remove the skin from the whole chicken, which has been surprisingly easier than double-checking to make sure the feathers have all been plucked and the yellow scaly things all removed. Once the skin is removed, I cut off all the extra fat I see and am able to cut. The inside parts are usually included in a separate bag in the cavity. If I'm not cutting up the chicken for stewing, currying, etc. I add the inside parts to the dog food bag to be prepared for Hyper Doggy. Once I'm leaving it whole, I wash the chicken inside and out with lime to cut the freshness, and pat it dry inside and out. The chickens we get down here aren't too big, so even the biggest chickens we can find still fit into the largest ziploc bag when left whole. If I have my meal plans in mind, I'll season the chicken in the bag before squeezing out the air, sealing, labeling by date and what it's seasoned for, and putting in the freezer. The night before I'm ready to cook/bake/roast the chicken, I put it in the fridge. That way, once it's thawed out, it marinates in the seasoning until I'm ready for it. Otherwise I tend to it just the same, minus the seasoning. A word of advice; fish and poultry are always best when bought and slaughtered fresh, and placed on ice until ready to use. We try to get fresh fish when we can and tend to it right away. The same is said for chicken, and I try to ensure we go to a place that will kill the chicken for us halal-style (the Muslim way that allows the blood to flow out from the neck. I wouldn't do it myself, but it is better as there are no broken bones or blood clots in the chicken this way) and pluck it and guts it themselves. We're hoping to get a cooler soon so we can make it more of a habit to get everything fresh and keep it fresher for longer on ice until we get home to tend to it. The same processes can be used to store any kind of meat. Needless to say, I also use the ziploc bags or small clear plastic bags to store portioned out bulk meals in the freezer for a rainy day. Again, I label them by what's inside and the date it was cooked.

Paper towels and napkins: Even if you're using a cleaning cloth, paper towels and napkins still come in incredibly handy. I use paper towels with my ziploc bags to store my produce and for the really small ziploc bags and small amounts of any produce, I use a napkin instead. As environmentally conscious as I am, I occasionally use them for cleaning as well. I also use paper towels to soak up oil in fried or oven baked foods. I always keep a few napkins on hand in the car. Sometimes we buy food outside and either don't get napkins or don't get enough, or there's a mess to clean up, or for the past few months, I'm pregnant and have morning sickness.

Kitchen towels: We have a few old  kitchen towels that makes do for now, and intend to get more soon. We also try to keep one old regular towel in the kitchen to dry our hands or produce or pots and pans. When an oven mitt disappears, a couple kitchen towels suffice. I also dampen them and place over bowls of dough when baking. Wash them regularly and keep them on hand to wrap bread, cover dough, handle hot pans, or line containers to store certain types of food.