How to Choose a Tie and Fold a Pocket Square

Cleaning a Coffee Grinder

Add a couple tablespoons to a handful of rice into the grinder. Grind the rice into fine particles and it will soak up the oils left from coffee beans, absorb odor and clean out residual grounds. Discard the rice and wipe clean with a dry cloth or use a clean paint brush to brush any left over particles.

Top row of 3 photos: 1) adding rice, 2) grinding rice, and 3) using a brush to clean up the left over particles
Bottom row of 2 photos:  1) Before starting this process, and 2) Clean grinder after using the rice to clean it.

Ironing Shirts and Press Pants

How to Sew on a Button

Tuesday Tips: Dishwasher Tips

I am a little OCD when it comes to loading the dishwasher - okay maybe more than a little. I like it all to be put in a certain way as it maximizes space and creates easier routine for unloading. 

One of my little tips for loading the dishwasher is sorting the dirty silverware as I load it into the silverware rack in the dishwasher before running it. It makes unloading it so much easier. So all the forks go in one compartment, all the spoons in another, and so on and so forth.  

Bonus Dishwasher Tips

*  Vinegar - Run your dishwasher empty, but dump a cup of the distilled white vinegar in the bottom of the dishwasher.  Set to a normal cycle and let it run.  It helps clean old smells and particles out of the dishwasher as well as disinfect it.  I do this every 4 to 6 weeks.

*  Hot Water - Turn your faucet on and let it run until it is hot water is flowing. If you turn on your hot water faucet and it takes a moment to get hot, then it is same for your dishwasher. By running faucet and get the hot water flowing, then the pipes are filling with hot water. 

* Dishwasher Soap -  About 2 years ago I tried a homemade dishwasher soap, but it didn't really work well.  So I ended up going back to store-bought detergent.  One thing I did change when going back to store-bought detergent was cutting back on the amount of detergent I use.  I fill the compartment about half way to less than half and now my dishes have less spotty build up and still clean. 

Tuesday Tips

Cleaning Crystal

Washing Crystal 
* When washing crystal, line your sink with a rubber mat or thick dishtowel.  Do one item at a time so they don't bang up against each other and get damaged or break.
* Fill with warm water and a solution of a healthy squirt of liquid dish soap and 1/4 cup of vinegar.
* Rinse in clean water and vinegar to help with spotting
* Dry with a lint free cloth such as a microfiber cloth

Cleaning Cloudy Crystal

I had one vase that got extremely cloudy. I had tried to clean it many times over, but nothing seemed to work.  I tried to use a paste of baking soda and vinegar on it and scrubbing with a slim brushes bottle brushes and toothbrushes, uncooked rice, vinegar, lemon juice, and egg shells and a couple other ideas too, but none of them worked. Nothing I did would clear it up.  When I had a second vase starting to get cloudy, I knew I had to find a solution. I read online about using denture tablets to clean crystal so decided I would give it a try.

So I picked up a box of denture tablets at the Dollar Tree and gave it a try...




I added the denture tablets and let it soak for 15 mins.  I then took a toothbrush and scrubbed - lightly. I rinsed the vases out and one vase was clear, but the other which was extremely cloudy to start  so wasn't completely clean yet.


I then did a second round of denture tablets.  The second time I only added the water to just past where it was still cloudy.  I then rinsed with warm water and it was clear.

So there are no more cloudy vases in this household....



That second vase only had a light ring of cloudy film. So it only needed one time through with the denture tablet process. The whole process was so easy. I think of all the time I had been struggling to try to get the one extremely cloudy crystal vase clean and couldn't.  I now always use them at first signs of cloudy film.

Just so glad I found an easy way to clean them.

Creating Vinaigrettes

Vinaigrettes are so easy to make and are all about flavor.  Building amazing flavor to add to a salad.  Bring a salad to a meal at the holidays is always a fresh choice when we are eating such rich foods.

1.  Start with finely chopped ginger, onion, capers, shallot, garlic or herbs.  Honey, Dijon mustard or soy sauce also add great flavor.  Salt and pepper are always needed too for seasoning.
2. A vinaigrette needs acid - which comes from the vinegar....add red or white wine, sherry, cider or balsamic vinegar or lemon or lime juice will also work as an acid.
3. Add oil - olive oil is what I use the most, but safflower, vegetable or peanut oil. I like to do 2 to 1 ration or 3 to 1.  1 part acid or 2 to 3 parts of oil.
4. Mix - shake in a jar,  combine in a blender or  whisk in a bowl (don't use a metal bowl as it reacts to the acid and throws the taste of it off.)   I like using a jar and then just store it in for up to 3 days in the fridge.

Combinations to try:
* Garlic, thyme, Djon mustard, red-wine vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil
* Shallot, cilantro, roasted jalapeno, lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil
* Shallot, honey, orange zest, lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil
* Shallot, tarragon, sherry vinegar, extra virgin olive oil
* Balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil
* Oregano, parsley, garlic, white wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil
* Ginger, garlic, honey mustard, soy sauce, rice vinegar, extra virgin olive oil
* Raspberry Jam,  honey mustard, white wine or balsamic vinegar,  extra virgin olive oil

It is time for...Fall Cleaning

I love fall cleaning almost more then spring cleaning. I think it is because I just love that chill that starts hitting the air. Nesting kicks into high gear for me.....cleaning, cooking, and doing crafts and decorating in prep for the holidays. So this weekend, I have been making lists,  going over things to make sure I have supplies on hand and mapping out my schedule.

Fall Cleaning Lists - Download and Print:

Kitchen
Dining Room
Closets and Laundry Room
Living Room, Family Room and Office
Bedroom
Bathroom
Basement, Attic and Garage
Outside
Smaller General List


How-to's:
Cleaning Your Ceiling Fan
Cleaning the Kitchen Trash Can
Tips for Vacuum Care
Cleaning Your Computer
How-to Wash Pillows
Cleaning the Toaster
Cleaning the Microwave
How to Clean Your Dishwasher


General Information:
5 Decorating Mantras to Live By
10 Simple Things to Make You Happier at Home
10 Habits for a Well-Run Home
100 Reason to Get Rid of It - this link has all sorts of resources for items you want to get rid of

Cleaning Your Ceiling Fan

About a month ago I posted a tip on dusting the ceiling fan, but today I am going to actually write about cleaning the ceiling fan that uses the same technique with the pillowcase, but takes it one step further when the blades are really needing to be cleaned not just dusted.

When you have blades that are dusty and just holding on to dirt, it can send all that flying when you turn on the blades.  That means allergies can be kicked up and as if we don't have enough allergens in a normal house and seasonal living.

I like to actually clean not just dust the ceiling fan during my seasonal cleaning. And soon I will be throwing myself into my fall cleaning routine so thought I would share how I clean the ceiling fan during my seasonal cleaning.

Supplies:
Old Pillowcase
Extra cleaning cloth such as a microfiber cloth
Spray bottle with water and vinegar
Ladder
Optional: Drop cloth


1. If you want for extra protection, place down drop clothes over furniture and under the area of the ceiling fan.  I often don't do this often, because I use the nifty pillow case trick, but also I start my cleaning a room by cleaning the ceiling fan so any dust and dirt that falls from it will be cleaned up during the rest of my normal cleaning.

2. Take a spray bottle and fill it with warm water and 1/4 cup of distilled white vinegar. Spray the inside of the of the pillowcase with the mixture.

3. Standing on a ladder, slip the pillowcase over a blade and pull it back and forth to clean the blade.

4. You will notice dirt on the inside of the pillowcase as you take it off and move to the next blade. Spritz a clean part of the pillowcase and slip it over the blade and pull it back and forth like you did on the first blade. Continue doing this with each blade.

5. Take your cleaning cloth and clean the light fixture, base of the fan and any residual dirt and grime on the blades.

6. Take the pillowcase outside and shake out the dust and dirt and then launder.

If you have a ceiling fan that is very high, I don't recommend climbing on a ladder to clean it. If it is over 12 feet from the ground, I would get an actual ceiling fan duster from your local hardware store. They even have extensions to buy if you need to to go even longer.

Dusting the Ceiling Fan

A house I lived in years ago practically had a ceiling fan in every room and I got to the point of hating them not only because I am not especially fond of their looks, but cleaning them has always been a pain.  Here we only have one ceiling fan and it is in the bedroom.  It is needed in the summer time or we would never stay remotely comfortable when the temps reach 109 degrees during July and August.

I really dislike this ceiling fan because it is pretty much right over the bed no matter how we arrange the room.  I have used all sorts of cleaning methods over the years to dust the blades, but I have always been annoyed that I was basically dusting it on to the bed creating more work for myself.  Finally....I found the solution....using an old pillow case.

* Slide a pillow case over a blade of the ceiling fan.
* Hold one end and pull it along the blade. The dust and debris fall into the pillow case and not all over the room. 
* After doing this to each blade, take the pillow case outside and turn it inside out, shake out the dust and debris, and then launder. 

Friday Favorites

DIY Drop Cloth Stenciled Curtains  -  I think this would be an inexpensive way to replace curtains throughout the house.  I just wonder if they look as nice as they do in the photo as I really am thinking this is something I am going to do for our bedroom and the kitchen and dining room.

Staining Oak Cabinets Espresso  - again something I would love to do and this blog makes it look not as difficult as I thought it would be

Organization Board Tutorial -  a board with all the things  I need in one place. Very stylish too! I love the idea of putting them in frames and using them as dry erase boards with the printable check list under the glass.

Clean and Regrease a Kitchen Aid Mixer  - just something that might be helpful to those of us with Kitchen Aid Mixers

Thai Peanut Slaw - this is a different recipe then I usually see...I love the thought of the dressing. I really want to try this and add some grilled chicken to it for a good summer time meal

Cleaning the Kitchen Trash Can

Even with a trash bag in your trash can liquid and food particles can escape and cause nasty things to grow and create bacteria that not only smell nasty but produce things we don't want to touch or breath . Every time I change the trash bag out, I spray my normal all-purpose cleaner on the inside and outside.  It has disinfecting properties to it.  I let it air dry before putting in a new bag.

But every so often (about once a month to every 6 weeks), I wash and do a more thorough cleaning of the trash can. This will not only work for your kitchen trash can but all the other trash cans in your home. When cleaning the trash cans I bring to the curb, I just do this process but outside with the hose.

We have a shower that as detachable sprayer/hose so that it isn't fixed position. I use the sprayer on it to rinse off with hot water.  I  fill it up about 1/3 of the way with hot water and liquid dish soap and let it soak for about 10 to 15 minutes.  Then take a scrub brush to it and give it a good cleaning.   Making sure I get all the corners, around ridges and the lip of the trash can.

If you don't have a shower you can use, then use your tub and a pitcher to fill with water and pour over your trash can.   You can also use the outside hose even though it isn't hot water working with all purpose cleaner and soap will get it clean.  

After you have washed it in the shower (or tub or outside), let air dry or pat dry.  Then spray with an disinfecting all-purpose cleaner and either dry with a towel or allow to air dry.  You can also leave it to dry in the sun and the sun will help in destroying any other lingering bacteria.

Tips for Vacuum Care

I once read an article in a magazine that was listing real life house cleaning horror stories from people.  I read one about a woman, who was a newlywed, spilling tuna fish on the floor so she just vacuumed it up.  Several weeks later her and husband smell something that wasn't pleasant.  They searched and finally realized it was coming from the vacuum. When the opened it up, it was...well let's just say gross.  Anyway....on to the actual subject of this post....

Your vacuum will start losing suction the fuller it gets which makes it work harder.  The motor then has to work harder too and can create wear and tear on your vacuum.

These are just a few tips to make help in extending the life of your vacuum cleaner.

As always first look in the manual for your vacuum cleaner to get full instructions on cleaning and changing the bag. If you can't find your manual, do a search online for your model number online via google search or youtube.

So just a few tips...
*  Run the vacuum for about 30 seconds before you are going to change the bag so that it sucks up the dirt and particles left in the hose.

*  Before pulling a disposable bag out, place a piece of duct tape or packing tape over the hole that connects to the vacuum so that when you pull it you don't get a lot of dust spread back into the room.  Before removing a reusable bag, bring the vacuum outside to work so that you don't get dust spread around.

*  If you have a reusable bag or filter in your vacuum, clean it and then make sure it is completely dry before placing.

* Wipe exterior of spills on vacuum to avoid unpleasant smells and sticky messes.

*  Wrap the cord neatly so that it doesn't cause tangles which can cause breaks in the wires.

*  When changing a vacuum bag, check the vacuum hose to make sure there are no obstructions visible from the end.  Also check all the brushes and attachments to make sure there isn't debris obstructing the suction.

*  Check for cracks in attachments and hoses regularly.

*  Clean all brushes and attachments - make sure there isn't any dust or sticky build up that can be spread across or cause marks on your floors.

*  Clean the wheel - removing debris, obstructions and things tangled around it - such as hair and string.

*  Store all brushes and attachments on the vacuum so that you always know where they are when cleaning.

* Change out the bag every month or 2 if you have kids and pets. Otherwise 2 to 3 times a year is all that will probably be needed. If you are having problems with the vacuum picking things up, check how full the bag is by looking at the bag and feeling the fullness.

Apps to Help your Domestic Service

We are geeks in this household so we utilize our smartphone and iPad to help with day to day life . 

All the apps are either linked to their website which has a link to the app or the iTunes store.  But please google the name if you want to see it has an app for other devices such as Blackberry or Android.  We use a AppAdvice to get most of our apps for free (this is geared to iPhone and iPad but again google for name of app for use on other devices.) Things that normally charge will do free for limited time so please bookmark this site as a resources to find apps.  They also have an AppAdvice app - which is how we actually use/read it and I find it is worth price. But view the website not just the above link but the whole website for a while and see what you think.   

Productivity
For a to-do list/task list organizer - Toodledo - it is a great tool. It has customizable alarms, you can set priority levels on them and break the projects down into tasks, you can share with others, it has folders, tags, contexts, subtasks and more to organize, search and sort through your tasks. It also syncs with Google calendar and gmail. 

Reference
Skygrid - basically really powerful newsfeed. If you are needing to find something out on the web and having problems, put that topic in and it will take some time - usually a day and start pulling in everything it finds on the topic. It is really good to if you don't have time right now but let it pull stuff in and then when you are sitting in a doctors office or have 10 mins you can browse through the things it found on the topic you were needing.

Dropbox - sharing files anywhere. It has been an amazing tool for us for business but we use it when we sit just with a wall between Master and my office because it is so easy to use it for sharing files. You just drop and drag to a folder that is on your computer and it will upload it to be shared with those you specify.  There is a little pop-up notification on the toolbox when someone has shared something with me. You then will also be able to access it anywhere because it is saved up in the cloud. So I can save a list of household needs and measurements and when out and about, I can access it.

Evernote - Take a note of anything. I like it because I can save websites, news articles and things I know might not be there at some point but evernote will save it for me forever as long as I want it. I can then access it anywhere. So if I read a great article online about wine, I save to evernote and when shopping for wine pull it up up on evernote.

HowCast - videos on How-To.  How to do almost anything.


Free Wi-Fi Finder - just what says

Remember that many magazines will give you issues via their app for free if you have a (paper) subscription to them. I have Martha Stewart's Living and Everyday Food and love the issues on the apps as they have extras like videos or more photos.  It is nice to read the recipe right on the iPad instead of trying to keep my magazine open on the counter or ripping it out.

Saving Money
Gasbuddy.com has an app that we use all the time to find the cheapest gas. The other night Master saved 14 cents a gallon not traveling very far down the road to get it either.

The Coupon App- pretty much says it in the title what it is huh? :)

Barcode Scanner - it is for the Andriod but Gizmodo has a list of barcode scanners for other devices too. You can scan barcodes or data matrixs and then the app will find you the lowest price. 


Menu Planning/Shopping Lists
PepperPlate.com - Not only a great website but has an app too so you can access everything you have on PepperPlate.com.  Pepper Plate has a place to store recipes easily from their recommended sites as well as other sites. You can create shopping lists, menus and it also has a planner.  From the home page - it looks like the app allows you to set timers and has a feature so your iPad won't dim when you are using to read a recipe while cooking.   I have been only using it for a couple weeks but love everything I have used it for so far - and just love the interface.

GroceryIQ & NutritionIQ  - Grocery IQ is a great app for creating shopping lists. You can have multiple stores, add details such as size, price and quantity, organize by aisle, has barcode scanning and predictive searches, print or email coupons and it can share with multiple devices and syncs the lists to them so if maybe you went shopping that day and then later one after work another member of your household stops by grocery store and they will be able to see an updated list.  Nutrition IQ isn't as powerful as Grocery IQ but gives you categories of food - nutritious foods and you can click on a category such as fiber and it will list all nutritious foods with fiber. You can then add them to a shopping list and it has the ability to check them off as you shop just as Grocery IQ does. 

Around the House
Handyman App - it is from the magazine The Family Handyman.  It has some old issues to flip through on it but if you want current issues you have to pay for them. The old issues they have available are full of great information though. You can read the forums and blog on the app too.  The forums are full of problems and solutions.

Good Housekeeping @ Home - has stain buster, do-it-all cleaning tips, home decor gallery and news & tips.

ColorSmart by Behr - it has a feature if you use with iPad2 or phones with cameras - where you can take a photo of your room and then upload it  so that change the paint  so you can see how it would look. ColorSnap is the Sherwin-Williams app that is like Behr. SnapShop is a similar app but for furniture. 

Houzz - is basically for inspiration when I want to redecorate or when I start thinking of our dream home and want more ideas. But it is just a gallery of photos that you can save and make notes on each photo for future reference or also upload photos you find inspiring. I think this app is only for iPhone or iPad.


Flashlight - I admit it - I have used the iPad for a flashlight before trying to find my way around in the dark. It casts off more light then the little maglite I have in the junk drawer. 

Recipes
I use the Epicurious app quite a bit when needing a recipe or have an ingredient I want to use - I can a search there.

Soup Master - I got this app for free but it has so many recipes that I do feel it is probably worth the $1.99. It will list like 5 chicken noodle recipes but all are a little bit different.  But the variety of recipes is beyond what I could ever think of for soup.

Whole Food Recipes -  It has categories such as bugget, quick and easy, cooking with kids, you can target special diet needs such as gluten-free, diary-free, lowfat, vegetarian/vegan and so on,  and you can also search by ingredient, build a shopping list from the recipes. 

All Recipes - they have a free version and a paid/pro version that doesn't have ads and has just a few more features. I use the free version and have liked it just fine.   But I can see the paid version might have some benefits if you use All Recipes quite a bit.  Because it will access your recipe box, allow you to create shopping lists from the recipes and just a few more features that you can't get with the free version. But the free version allows you access to all the recipes, doing search by 1 ingredient or up to 8, by nutrition or name. It also allows you to bookmark favorites on the app. 

Big Oven - can search 170,000+ recipes, add recipes to grocery lists, and automatically synchronize those grocery lists, search by ingredient

Pocket Cocktails and Cocktails HD - It is an app for iPhone/iPad. It has recipes for cocktails. They now have their Christmas cocktail section up right now and during Halloween they had some really good cocktails that were great way to celebrate the holiday.  They have a full screen photo for every drink, search by drink name or an ingredient.  Also includes a Pocket Sommelier.  There is a list of tips and tricks such as how to coat a rim of a glass, how to make layer drinks, zest fruit and so on. Even though I have an iPad I use Pocket Cocktails as Cocktails HD hadn't come out when I first got Pocket Cocktails. They are both 99 cents so not bad for all recipes and information it gives you.

Green
Good Guide -  find health, environmental and social performance ratings for 120,000 food, personal care and household products,  has barcode scanning built in to retrieve product ratings while you shop, you can personalize by selecting issues you care the most about such as is a product tested on animals if that is a top priority for you - you can select that to make sure it tells you how that product rates in that area. It also allows you to create shopping lists. 

Locavore - find local, in-season food, seasonal recipes, nearby farmers' markets & farms that sell the products you enjoy. 


iRecycle - tells you how, where and when to recycle just about anything by inputting your location and also shares new with tips and ways to make green changes to your life.  Another app that I think is similar is My Recycle List.

Part 2 of this will be apps that I haven't used but heard good things about and a few other resource lists for finding applications. 

Friday Favorites

Freezable Foods - good list of foods that are freezable. I don't think it has EVERYTHING on it of course but it is a good list.

Bourbon Chocolate Milkshake - There was this diner that I went to once that had adult milkshakes and they were so good. And this recipe brought me back to those.

Homemade Cheddar Cheese Crackers - just look really good and more healthy then the store bought ones.

Painting Laminate Furniture - Photos as well as step by step instructions

5 Decorating Mantras to Live By - simple good list

Friday Favorites

Make Ahead Freezer Smoothies - great tip for making it even easier to make smoothies when mornings are rushed but you want to stay healthy for breakfast

40 bags in 40 days - I am linking to her list. But there is a link to her original post of decluttering by just making a list of 40 places/spaces that need decluttering and doing on place each day. And it isn't rooms mind you - it is draws and toy boxes. Might make it easier by breaking it down into a list or challenge.

How to Cover up Dings in Wooden Furniture - with a walnut? really? I wonder if it works. Please if someone does this let me know how it goes.

Under the Sink Storage Trays - how to build under the sink storage trays

How to store Vegetables and Fruit without Plastic Bags - this site tells you how to be more eco-friendly and not using plastic bags to store your fruits and vegetables

Friday Favorites

Specialty Bottle - I found this site and was really happy. I have been searching for a gallon jar without a spout for a while. And it is hard to find a gallon. Find half gallon or smaller but not gallon in my area. This site has so many different kinds of bottles. I saw many uses. Look at the bottom of their home page - they have Martha Stewart using their bottles for many entertaining ideas.

Curbly - is a site I just started exploring. But have found some interesting articles on it. From the about section: "Curbly is a Web community for people who love where they live. Curbly is the best place to share pictures of your home, find design ideas, and get expert home-improvement advice."

How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others - this was geared towards creative types but I think it really works for everyone. It is such a hard thing to conquer at times the comparison game. And although it might seem like a strange link to put here I think we can get caught up it in service - all types of service.

Making your Own Reusable Swiffer Dusters and Mop Covers - a little tutorial on how to do make them

Cooking Light Taco Party Menu - menu includes Blackberry Margaritas,Baked Black Beans with Chorizo, Flank Steak Tacos, Chimichurri Halibut Tacos, Cabbage Slaw, Grilled Pineapple-Avocado Salsa, Pineapple-Mint Sangria Sorbet - so many good recipes and a taco party is great for entertaining

Friday Favorites

Real Outdoor Living - has project lists and how-tos on making decks, fencing and other outdoor wood projects

10 S'More recipes - just perfect for a summertime treat

Raised Organic Vegetable Garden Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 - They have a very limited space and I thought it was really great what they did with the space they had available

30 days of Summer Entertaining - the bottom of the current entry she has the back entries to the rest of the days

Friday Favorites

Make Your Own Daily Shower Spray

Real Simple's New Uses for Things in Your Office - some of these things are very impractical to me but some are creative and could be very useful.


Garage Sale How To from Ready Made - With garage sale time here this might have some useful tips for those wanting to do a garage sale


SixThreeFive sent me the next 2 links to share...
Scandi Foodie - the photos alone on this site are amazing. Make me hungry!

Princess Cake - "It is a sponge cake that has a cream filling and the layers are brushed with a simple syrup and raspberry jam. The cake is frosted with whipped cream and then a light green marzipan topping is rolled and stretched over the entire cake."

Cleaning the Iron

Please read your manufactures instruction manual.

Mineral deposits can clog your steam iron. You can dissolve them by pouring some white vinegar into the water tank and letting it steam for several minutes. After cleaning with the vinegar, iron an old clean cloth. Residue will be deposited on the cloth. Cool the iron and rinse with water or distilled water if your iron calls for distilled water. If you get frequent mineral deposits, it might be because you are using tap water.

If you use spray starch, it will stick to the soleplate of the iron and need cleaning. The best way to clean it is to make a paste of baking soda and water and then brush the soleplate with an old clean tooth brush. If it isn't coming clean, then apply it again and scrub firmly. Cleaning it regularly will prevent the stuck on spray starch rubbing off on clothing when you are ironing.