AH-Mazing Grout Cleaner - FOR CHEAP!

Ya'll ..... I can not believe this works!!!

Let me first start by saying .... if you're like me and these hard, manual tasks are daunting ... If I can do it ... so can you!!!

I have been in my home for over a year now.  I have cleaned the kitchen floors weekly since moving in, however, the grout has NEVER been cleaned!  Eeewww ... grosss ... yeah I totally know.  But in all reality, I don't have time to sit there and scrub my floors until they sparkle.  I was literally 2 seconds away from calling a company to come and clean the grout.  It was getting bad.  I mean, I have two dogs, two kids, and we use our kitchen like there is no tomorrow!  I knew it had to be done, and that's why I was really curious when I read that you can use Lysol Gel Toilet Cleaner on your grout.  Say whaaaa??  I know, I was just as curious as to how this worked as you!  I jumped in the car and headed to the nearest CVS to see if it would work.

I'm a little hesitant when using products I have never used before on floors.  I didn't want to stain them or ruin them in any way.  There were two options to choose from.  There was the Lysol Gel with Bleach and the Lysol Gel with Hydrogen Peroxide.  I had read the bleach worked well, but honestly, I wasn't willing to try it.  I get a little nervous about bleach.  So I opted for the HP.

When I got home, I tested a small area under our back door rug, just to see what I was working with. To my surprise ... It WORKED!  and with minimal effort ... [see above where I don't have a lot of time!]  Below are the exact steps I took to make my grout sparkle like the day I moved in. If you have dirty grout ... don't be ashamed :) Do what I did!!

Okay ... so this is the exact product I used.  I think I paid $3.75 for it at CVS.  You can probably find a coupon ... but again ... WHO has the time?!!??!

Steps:

1.  Prep your floors.  I swept my floors only. I didn't clean them at all, just used the hardwood floor vacuum.
2.  Take your Lysol toilet gel and apply it to your grout.  Like the photo below ...
3.  Take a bowl of water and a brush [just a reg. ol scrubbing brush you have laying around] and dip it into the water and scrub the grout.  You don't even have to scrub hard!  Just enough so the blue gel turns white and bubbly.
4.  Wipe away all the gel and water, and then refill your bowl.  Again, scrub the grout using only water and get the access away and continue to dilute the tile and grout.  [I don't know if this step is necessary, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't leaving the product on the title for too long, so I made sure to do this step each and every time.]
5. Wipe away and let the title DRY.
** The tile grout will look darker than when you started ... this is ok .. it's wet and needs to dry.  [see photo below]

Tips:

1.  Make sure to TEST a spot.  I would hate for you to try this product and it NOT work.  Don't blame me ... I told you to test first! :)
2.  Select small areas at a time. It's easy with this Gel to just keep on filling in the grout ... DON'T.  This is still a strong blue gel, and if left on too long, could stain.  Do you really want blue grout?!  So start small.  I did mine in sections and didn't have a problem.
3.  Don't leave the gel on too long.  As soon as I applied to the grout, I filled a bowl with water and got started.  I only gave the gel about a minute to work. Any longer and I would have gotten nervous it could stain.
4.  Don't skip the water and brush step #4 .. just saying :)
5.  Allow to dry for a few hours before you really examine the tile.  For me, my tile took about 2.5 hours to really dry and look clean. You will freak out for a moment when it's drying and say "what have I done, it looks worse."  If you followed these steps AND tested, you will be super pleased with the outcome!

My title grout looked so good, when the hubs got home, he noticed it RIGHT away!  That's right ladies ... it's that good!

** I have real stone tile and grey-ish grout.  It did not stain or harm my floor in anyway.

Share your own photos ... I would love to see how it worked for you!!!

#cleaning #grout #lysoltoiletgel

Tips to Host an Amazing Dinner Party

Who doesn't love a good dinner party?  I for one am a super fan!  I love getting everything ready, making sure the house is clean and the menu is prepped.  But what I really love, is setting a table.  Each is different, making each unique for the guests. 

Whether you have attended and help many dinner parties over the years or you're new to the scene, here are a few GO-TO can not fail tips that I have accrued while planning for the easiest of guest to the those who make you nervous!  Over the years planning for events and parties, I became known as the etiquette Specialist, whether true or not, I sure do have a few tricks up my sleeve!


The Pampered Mom's Go-To Tips for Hosting the Perfect Dinner Party

1.  Start Early:  Not necessarily that day, start days before.  Write down your menu and grocery shop ahead of time, not the day of.  That way if you have to order something special, you'll know for sure you'll have it on hand.  When choosing the right menu, make sure your guests don't have any allergies you're unaware of.  It's always a good rule of thumb when you're cooking for more than your family to have options.  If you're serving shell fish, add a meat option.  If you're serving a meal that required meat such as chicken, steak or pork, have something available to whip up in a moments notice if someone is vegetarian.  You can't please them all, but they'll be impressed you were able to give them some variety!

2.  Cleaning:  You should consider doing all mild cleaning ahead of time.  You're house should be about 80% clean before the day of so you're not running around with your head cut off.  For me, I make sure that the house is kept, everything is in it's place the night before.  I personally love to fine-tune, clean floors and bathrooms the day of, so that they look and smell fresh for all that attend.  Also, you never know where your guests will end up.  You think you don't need to clean that hall closet?  Think again, your guests could think that's the bathroom door and open it up.  I make sure each room in the house is cleaned and vacuumed.  I also love placing fresh flowers throughout the house as well.  This is a costly finish, but it makes a lasting impression!  When I was little, my parents took me to a strings concert in Branson, Missouri called Shoji Tabuchi.  It was magnificent, but you know what I remember most?  The Bathrooms!  Literally, they were the most amazing bathrooms I have ever been in.  So you know what I do now?  I put something special in ours that impress our guests.  Each time is different, but lately I have been fond of this local sugar scrub I found here.  I place it in a small glass dish with a small spoon and wa la!  Easy and remembered!

3.  Music:  You really should have some idea of the mood of the dinner party before hand.  Is it fun and casual, is it more posh and trendy?  Whatever the mood you want to set, you should do so with the music you select.  You never want guests to walk into your house and there is science.  The week before start compiling music for the evening and create a playlist.  Try it out the night before while you're cleaning and make sure the music isn't too loud during dinner!

4.  Prepwork:  The day of I actually prep the entire meal.  It calls for a handful of basil, you bet I am placing that in a dish and labeling for the evening.  I literally cut, chop, mix, blend everything before the night begins, that way, it's SUPER easy to through together.  Thinking of trying a new dish?  Not for a dinner party!  Everything you decide should be tried before you serve to your guests.  Seriously, that could be disaster!  Especially with the way I cook!  You will also want to set the table.  I always set mine pretty formal looking.  I just like the way it feels, I like my guests to feel pampered but honestly, it's just personal preference.  Trust me, if we're doing a taco themed dinner party at the house, I will still be setting the dining room with my best fiesta dinnerware, with three glasses per setting and silverware and linen napkins ... because that's what I like!  Why three glasses you ask?  Because I always offer my guests water, a paired wine to go with dinner and I always finish it up with a champagne toast.  I mean really, who doesn't love a little bubbly before dessert?!

5.  It's in the Details:  Seriously though, it's IN THE DETAILS!  You can plan for weeks and still if you forget the little things ... your guests may forget the night.  Not really, but you know what I am talking about.  Give them something that will last, that will stay on their tongue a bit.  For me, if I am serving a salad, you better believe that salad is ready to go, in individual bowls in the refrigerator ahead of time.  Always chill plates and bowls that will be serving something cold, just as a rule of thumb!  Butter?  Make sure you whip your butter and place in individual tubs and chill, take out an hour before dinner.  It's the little things.  I know I mentioned flowers earlier, but something about fresh flowers on the tablescape creates a warm and inviting place.  When all these details are in the air, don't forget to delegate.  For me, I always make my husband the designated bartender and he is always in charge of the music.  For me, I always rule by:: create the scene you want, and then add candles!

6.  And lastly, as Ina Garten says, "Greet your guests at the door in socks, slippers, or barefoot - it sets a fun, chill vibe right away."  Have fun, relax and enjoy the evening. You deserve it!

 

 

 

{Deep Cleaning}

Does anyone else have the problem I do? I leave the house and work for a few days, come home, and it looks like five tornadoes have ripped through my house. There is about 5 days of laundry to do piled in the laundry room, the floors haven't been swept since I left, toys are scattered, dishes are piled in the sink, not to mention bathrooms haven't been cleaned ... ugh. Sometimes, just leaving the house is stressful thinking about it.

Since today is a snow day for most, I thought I would share with you my "deep cleaning" process. It's a chart that I use. I keep it in my cleaning bucket, and it goes through every room until the house is clean. Yep, this is how I am spending my snow day, in hopes that I can get it down now, and enjoy all the snow tomorrow :)

So here it is in all it's glory. I have customized this list a number of times depending on the house I live in, what areas to clean, etc. But this is what I use my my current house now. Feel free to print it off and use it too. I happen to have mine laminated so that I can check items off as I go. BTW: I usually do this every other Monday, and the rest of the days I just "clean up." I found that if I keep this up, then it's easier each time and cuts down on the time!




Happy Deep Cleaning!

Favorite Cleaners

Do you have a favorite cleaner you use? Have you gone green, or do you prefer a more commercial brand?

I am so in love with my cleaner, I just feel the need to share! I have always been a hard core 409'er. Seriously, I still can't part with it all together. It's a great antibacterial cleaner, but ...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day. You have got to try this stuff. Apart from it having a great lemon fresh scent (also comes in lavender), it's a green product. It's a naturally safe way to clean your house.

Currently I am using the Counter Spray and the Shower Spray. The only place I can find these products are at Hy-Vee. It's across town for me, but well worth it!