Do It On A Dime

Five Tips for a Cleaner Home

by Filed Under: Cleaning, DIY Projects

I’m partnering with O-Cedar to bring you five tips for a cleaner home, starting with your floors.  I already owned their mop before this collaboration, and I knew how well it works!  Achieving a clean home with kids can be hard, so these are realistic solutions for busy families.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

TIP 1: CREATE A SHOE-DROP ZONE

I genuinely clean my home 50% less by having a no-shoe policy indoors. Think about all the dirt and dust you track inside by wearing your shoes around the home.  For cleanliness sake it’s important, but just think of all the TIME you spend cleaning.  Yeah, I’m cool with cleaning less!  Having a designated shoe mat will help hold you to this policy (and remind guests without you having to).  If you live in a cold climate, keep some dollar store socks on hand for guests who want to keep their feet warm.

TIP 2:  EMBRACE THE VACUUM

Or at a minimum the hose extension.  I really don’t sweep much.  I just vacuum my floors, under the table, and even right on the table for crumby messes.  It’s fast.  It’s easy.  And it WORKS. Check out this article https://cleanhomeguide.co.uk/best-shark-vacuum/ for reviews on some of the best shark vacuums. I fully recommend a cordless vacuum cleaner such as the Eufy Homevac for cleaning the house, as it’s just super simple and easy to use. If you don’t have one, check out these ones recommended by Appliance Hunter.

TIP 3:  GET A SPIN MOP

We love our O-Cedar Easy Wring Spin Mop and Bucket System.  I picked mine up on Walmart when my previous mop kicked the bucket.  It’s awesome because you don’t have to bend to use it, you can control the amount of water that goes on the floor (perfect for wood floors), and it’s FAST.  Like really fast.  Plus no streaks.  I paid for it using my own money, so when the brand reached out and wanted to partner with me AND give 6 mops away (see above), I jumped at the chance!

TIP 4: MAKE YOUR OWN FLOOR CLEANER

To clean my floors I use a 1:4 ration of distilled white vinegar to water with just a few drops of dish soap.  It’s worked super well for us and is all natural!

TIP 5: REFRESH YOUR CARPETS

Sprinkle baking soda on your carpets.  Let sit for 20 minutes and vacuum up.  This makes your carpet soft and plush again, plus your home will smell amazing!

 

How do you keep your floors clean?  Leave a comment below!

 

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* Sponsored by O-Cedar.  I already owned this mop and know how well it works, so this was a fun collab!  All opinions are genuinely my own.  Giveaway ends September 29th, 2016 at 12:00 am EST.  US only.  Six (6) winners will be chosen.  Winners must be 18 or older or have parental permission.  Winners will be selected randomly by Rafflecopter within a week of the giveaway ending and be notified by email. Winners have 72 hours to respond before a new winner is selected.  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, and Youtube are in no way associated with this giveaway.  By providing your information in this form, you are providing your information to me and me alone.  I will use your information only for the purpose of contacting the winners.*

Cheap cleaning tips!

by Filed Under: Cleaning, DIY Projects, Money Saving

In this clean with me video, I’ll show you my favorite tips and hacks for deep cleaning your kitchen.  I use all natural items and supplies from the Dollar Tree to get the job done right!  Check out Brittany from VasseurBeauty to see some great tips to speed clean your home.

CLEANING RECIPES:

* Kitchen Cleaner:
50/50 Water-Vinegar Solution (Optional a few drops Essential Oil)

* Floor Cleaner:
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup vinegar
1 squirt Dawn
1 splash rubbing alcohol

* Clorox Mop (my exact model is discontinued)

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*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are genuinely my own.  Links contain affiliates.

DIY Home Scent Hacks (for cheap!)

by Filed Under: Cleaning, DIY Projects, Money Saving

Here are some RIDICULOUSLY SIMPLE home scent hacks that are natural and actually work!  I love having a fragrant home but I don’t want to have to spend a lot of time or money doing it.  I hope you enjoy these tips!

HACK 1:  Stovetop Simmer

  • 2-3 cups of water
  • 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
  • 1 lemon
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • Simmer on your stove (adding water as necessary) or keep on low in your Crock Pot all day long.  It will fill your home with an amazing, fragrant scent you are sure to love (for any season!)

HACK 2:  Mason Jar Fridge Deodorizer

Add baking soda to a mason jar in your fridge.   Cover with scrapbook paper that you poke holes in or cheese cloth (you can find it at the Dollar Tree!)  Leave in your fridge for 6 months to absorb nasty odors!

HACK 3:  Essential Oils in the Bathroom


Add a fairly generous amount (7 drops) of essential oil to the inside of your toilet paper roll.  It will freshen the bathroom every time you visit!

If you are looking for inexpensive oil that is perfect for all your home cleaning and fragrance needs, I recommend this one.

HACK 4:  Dresser Drawer Scents

Add a bar of soap to your dresser drawers.  Alternatively, spray a popsicle stick with essential oil or samples of perfume (the wood will really absorb the scent) and you will love the way your drawers smell every time you open it up!

Looking for my drawer organizers?  You can find them here!
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*This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.  Links contain affiliates.*

3 Easy Bathroom Refreshes!

by Filed Under: Cleaning, DIY Projects

Here are three easy ways to refresh your bathroom on a budget and combat annoying things like stinky toilets, musty towels, and matted down rugs. You’ll be glad you gave these a try!

  1. Toilet Fizzies! For this recipe you will need:

Mix together the dry ingredients. Slowly pour the wet ingredients over top (for as little fizz as possible). Form into balls and let dry overnight. Or just place powder directly into container and use a scoop to get it out. Toss into your toilet mid-week for a mini-refresh

2. Combat musty towels! For this recipe you will need:

  • 1 cup vinegar
  • 1/2 cup baking soda

Add vinegar to your detergent well. Run a cycle of JUST hot water. Sprinkle baking soda onto clothes immediately after cycle and run another of JUST hot water. Presto. Your towels will be SO fresh and clean. We don’t use laundry detergent, you can find out more about Crystal Wash here if you are interested.

3. Refresh your rugs! Wash your rugs and let dry. Spray with a 50/50 vinegar water solution and use a wire brush to bring back to life. Your feet will thank you. Alternatively, you could have a look at some high quality designer rugs and find yourself a new decor item for you bathroom.

Hope you give these a try!

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*This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Links contain affiliates.*

NATURAL LAUNDRY | No detergent method with Crystal Wash

by Filed Under: Cleaning, Money Saving

I love natural cleaning, but there are lots of store-bought products that the natural options can’t compete with.  Up until this point, one of those things has always been laundry detergent.  Not to mention, I haven’t felt like I’ve had the time to make my own.  (It’s more time-intensive than other natural products.)  I work.  I have a toddler.  My house needs vacuuming.

Crystal Wash sent me their laundry “detergent” balls to try.  I was super skeptical (they sat in the box for a while), but as soon as I tried them, I haven’t looked back.  I completely shocked at how well they cleaned my clothes and how fresh they smelled.  Not fresh like flowers, just fresh nothingness.  Like they were cleaned in a natural spring and left to dry in the sun.  No kidding.

Here’s the long and short of it.  They..

  • last for 1,000 washes (that’s three years if you do a load of laundry a day!)
  • raise the pH of your water to help lift stains (much like hydrogen peroxide)
  • are recharged in the sun (every 2-3 weeks)
  • are completely natural (no dyes or chemicals)
  • work as well as laundry detergent (based on two independent studies)
  • have a 60 day money-back guarantee

For very hard stains, you still need to pre-treat just as you would with detergent.  You can use a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, and dish soap in a paste.  Rub on, let sit, and wash as normal!

I have read some less than glowing review online, and for that reason I was super skeptical.  But once I tried the product, and saw how well it worked for me personally, I knew I had to share it with you.  We have been using them every day!

You can learn more here about how they work.  If you use this link you can also get an additional 20% off (that’s a $10 savings.)

Do you use laundry detergent?  Do you make your own?  Have you tried Crystal Wash?  Would love to know your comments below!

https://youtu.be/r0uImSPYjv4

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*Thank you to Crystal Wash for sending me their laundry balls for review and consideration and for partnering with me in this post.  All opinions are 100% my own.*

Joyful Decluttering: KonMari Style

by Filed Under: Cleaning, Organization

I’ve been inspired by YouTubers like Hilary at MySoCalledHome and Jen from Jennifer Ross to read the book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.

This book is an international best-seller and is becoming quite popular on YouTube and on Instagram.

The method is simple:  get organized once and for all.  I love so much of what Marie Kondo (the author) has to say.  boils down to a few key points about getting organized, one of which was really eye-opening for me: keep only what sparks joy.

This seems so simple.  So ridiculously simple, yet so many of us aren’t doing this.  In fact, most of us aren’t.

My jewelry organizer


Here’s are my thoughts about the book, plus how I organized and decluttered my jewelry.  This process was so freeing for me.  Enjoy!

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HOW TO KEEP A CLEAN KITCHEN (plus DIY Lysol Wipes)!

by Filed Under: Cleaning, DIY Projects, Money Saving, Online Deals

 

DOWNLOAD LABELS HERE!

Learn to make knock-your-socks-off DIY cleaning wipes and keep your kitchen clean and orderly…even when cooking.  (My secret weapon!)

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If you are looking for some of the items featured in this video, they are linked below.  Our chop block comes from Wood Welded which is a store in Michigan (my home-state). It is an extremely high quality product, and no, I am not affiliated/paid/perked to say that! The exact price depends on the size you order, but typically an item like this will set you back $50-$100. You know me, I’m CHEAP, and in my opinion, this is worth it to have a quality piece. Ours was a wedding gift and it is one we use daily.

For those of you shopping on a tighter budget or wanting to try a more affordable option before taking the plunge, check out more online options or these highly recommended options….

Mountain Woods
Madiera

HAPPY KITCHEN CLEANING!

 

 

FTC Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored video. All opinions are genuinely my own. This post also contains affiliate links and I earn a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. It doesn’t cost you any extra. Thank you for your continued support to keep Do It On A Dime going!

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