The Unfinished

Some days, it is good to look around you and ask yourself, "What things have I left unfinished?".  It doesn't have to be housework.  It could be a craft  project, a phone call, a thank you note, or a laundry basket only partially emptied.  Maybe, you did the dishes that go in the dishwasher, but you have a couple of pans you wash by hand sitting on the stove or in the sink.  

Do you have laundry sitting in the washing machine?  Do you really want it to sour?  Oh, there are towels in the dryer, but you have to empty that basket first.  Then, you can put the towels in it, and put the wet laundry in the dryer.  

Have you ever set aside a day for working on unfinished projects?  I think you would be surprised what a difference it can make.  

Join me in setting aside one day a week to concentrate on things you were too tired to finish.  If you did finish everything, maybe, you have been procrastinating on doing a chore.  Let me know what you have accomplished, and I will do the same.

Baby steps get the job done!

Who knew cleaning could be fun and easy?

Make a mixture
of half vinegar / half Dawn

Do you have a cleaning chore that is absolutely your least favorite?  I  do.  Mine is cleaning the shower or tub.  

However, I like bathing in a clean, shiny shower or tub.  If there are imperfections, like scratches from age, it doesn't bother me.  Also, a few mineral deposits are not going to make me feel it is dirty;  but, some mineral deposits seem harder to remove than others.  Also, chronic fatigue and pain in my life has often meant buildup that would not come off with my regular bathroom cleaner.

Lately, I have been seeing Pinterest pictures that suggested mixing Dawn and Vinegar.  Since I didn't have Dawn, I tried the dish detergent I usually buy.  And then, I tried putting another cleaner into the non-scratch scrubber-dispenser I bought.  That was not satisfactory either.  The point is I wanted something available to use while I was in the shower, that would not cause me to breathe fumes from spraying something on the wall.

Moreover, I wanted to make bathing a cleaning opportunity. The idea is to wash one wall at a time, and a portion of the bottom of the shower.  Also, one is less likely to slip if only washing a portion of the shower bottom.  Today, I sat on my shower chair I use on the days I am exceptionally tired.  I suppose I could have done the floor, and then got in the shower;  however, I didn't.

What I want to show you are the excellent results I had.  I used the solution on a sink in my half-bath and on my shower/tub.
                                                                                                                                  

These are my before pictures. The coating of minerals was getting heavier.  Nothing would get it off, that would not damage the sink.  There was already damage from getting the rust stain off, and it came back.

 Here are my after pictures.  As you can see, the sink does not look new.  I was not expecting miracles.  Also, I have learned  every job does not have to be perfect.    If I do this again this week, I may be able to get a few more minerals off.  However, it is much better than it was, and I have the satisfaction of looking at a clean sink.  

The only disadvantage I can see from using this solution is that it has to be rinsed off after using the non-scratch scrubber on the sink.  However, I do not expect to have to work on a buildup every time I wipe down the sink, nor do I plan letting the minerals accumulate over a period of time.  After rinsing, I dried the sink off with a rag.  Incidentally, the lighter spot in the middle of the rust stain is not minerals, it is faded spot caused by using a rust remover.  I have tried safer alternatives and they haven't worked.  Meanwhile, I will work on one solution at a time. 

Keep your dispenser upright, or you will have leaking cleaning solution. Hang it, or put it in a mug with the sponge up. I used a rubber band I got off my fresh veggies from the market, put it around the dispenser, near the sponge over the scraper at the top of the sponge.  Then, I threaded fishing line underneath the rubber band and tied the fishing line.  There are plastic ties in different sizes at the hardware store, which I saw in another picture on the internet;  however, I did not want to spend money on something I doubted I would need for anything else.





Here are the tub/shower before and afters.  I worked on one section and will work on more my next shower.

      Before                                               After

Can you see where
I stopped cleaning?

 

May your heart be light and your cleaning easier.  It is a joy sharing the things I learn to do differently or better with you.  God bless you.  Have a good week.

Transitions or Back to Basics

August seems to be a time of transition for many people.   Summer is nearing it's end;  teachers are going back to their classrooms for preparation;  or in many places, children are back in school this week.  I'm sure each of you could add a list of transitions that have occurred in  your lives:  many are similar  and others are unique to each individual.

One of the best thing about transitions is this is an excellent time to direct focus back to the basics.  FlyLady is doing this by working on the laundry habit this month.  One load a day really does make laundry easier to handle.

A transition I have worked on is doing more of the grocery shopping.  I  also make conscious efforts to strengthen my legs and knees when I go from  a sitting position to standing.  Those may  seem like small things, but it is all part of my "effort"  to get out more.  In turn, I am also cooking more meals from scratch.

Find a couple of things you would like to work on in your home or life, and stick  with  it this week.  If you don't finish the job, you can extend it to next week.

It's Not Pretty

This morning, I got up to this.  Oh my!  It is not appealing to see this at all.  However, it did not just happen. It is an accumulation borne out of pre-vacation studying and after vacation dumping.  

Before vacation, I put all my energy into the absolute necessary, basics and getting things ready to go.  Normally, taking care of the clutter would be a basic, but I had to choose and I knew it would not go away.  Obviously, since it is still here today and growing.

My job today is to work on the pile, to take care of one  hot spot at a time.  Each hot spot is getting 5 minutes.  Some of this will go back to the bookcase.  There is some mail there too.  Maybe, some of that will go in the trash.  Just to be clear:  this table is one of my hot spots.  It is a place that becomes a magnet for my clutter. 

OK.  I have the basics of my cleaning for today planned.  Now, I will get something to eat.