Common Sense – A Giveaway!
The Scott Common Sense online community is a great place to go for tips, helpful tools, and special offers. This month, they have been celebrating all things related to rejuvenation on Scott Common Sense and want to help one of you relax by saving you a trip to the store…. They’re giving away a year supply of Scott Towels and Bath right here at From Dates to Diapers!
Here’s how to enter:
- Visit Scott Common Sense and browse around. Signing up to join this fun and helpful online community is not required, but I do hope you check it out… It’s a great way to share those clever tricks you use to simplify your life. You might even find some great tips to try out, too!
I look forward to hearing your useful tips! This giveaway is now closed… The winning tip was from Nora:
My favorite household tip is how to get rid of clutter in stages. I always say start at one wall first in small stages before tackling the rest of the room.
Christine, aka YoungMommy, is married to her best friend, Ray, and together they have six very active children - five boys and one pretty princess - with one on the way. She's a busy mama, spending most of her days homeschooling her crew.
I read a tip about keeping Christmas receipts together. The poster used a tissue box. I bought a small purple wallet file at the dollar store. It has a velcro closure. I keep all the receipts in there for several months after the holidays. Since it’s purple, it’s easy to find in my junk drawer. Thanks, great contest!
My favorite household tip is to always keep my kitchen sink clean and bleached. Even when I can’t get to the rest of the housecleaning, a clean sink makes me happy.
If you use dryer sheets, cut them in half. Half a dryer sheet works just a well as a whole one.
pkildow(at)gmail.com
I’m not sure my first comment went in or not so I’m reposting .
my fav tip from there website was:
To bring a dry, day-old biscuit or muffin back to life, take a Scott Towel, wet it thoroughly under the tap and wring out the excess water. Place the biscuit or muffin inside and wrap it up completely. Microwave just 10 seconds, and no more hard, dried out items. Yum!
great idea! wonderful contest TY!
A household tip: if you get a scratch on one of your wood tables, you can use a permanent magic marker that closely matches the color to fill it in. Works great!
Put lemon rinds in the disposal to get rid of the odor.
Use baby wipes to wipe down the bathroom sink, baseboards, and just about anything else.
When you buy something keep the box so that you have it to store the item while you aren’t using it. I have kept all the boxes for baby swings, bouncers, car seats, strollers, activity tables, etc. and when Alex was done I put it away in the box and stacked it neatly in the garage. Now when Isaac will need it I can go out and its like shopping all over again, it was stored without any damage, plus my garage looks great!
Sara
marriedrosesatyahoodotcom
Use rubbing alcohol to remove the adhesive from stickers on glass.
I use lemon scented ammonia for all window & wall washing.
It cuts through all grease.
My favorite tip was washing clothes in cold water to save energy. With a family of 7 I think that will really add up =)
when i buy bars of soap in bulk i put a bar in each dresser drawer instead of storing them in the bathroom closet..it makes your clothes smell nice
take the time to do things right and you won;t have to do them again
A good tip for windows is use coffee filters!!
Boy I sure could use Scott, it is my favorite brand!!
Boil lemon water in the microwave, it leaves it smelling fresh and easy to clean.
I keep tubes and plastic wrap for recycle art for the girls.
my favorite household tip is to put a dab of perfume on the light bulbs, every time the lights are turned on it sends fragrance through the room.
thanks for the chance to win!
barbmccrea@hotmail.com
Every time I get up to leave a room, I scan it for items that need to be put away elsewhere.
Every once-in-a-while I get to leave a room empty handed…but not often.
Thank you for the fantastic contest!
I like to make my celery last longer so I store it in tinfoil. Works like a charm.
My household tip is to keep a plastic spray bottle of diluted vinegar in shower. Spray shower and tub every few days and rinse. Keeps buildup down.
We use a lot of white vinegar. Cleans, sanitizes and helps to control ants.
I use a toothbrush to clean tight places like around sinks.
Thanks!
1bmore @ gmail . com
vacuum at the end of the day rather than the beginning. so you don’t have to repeat yourself
blogge ya
http://notimemom.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/contests-8-25-08/
toss bedding down the stairs if you don’t have a laundry chute, don’t try to carry it with your view of the steps obscured.
Use vinegar and water for cleaning. Natural and cheap!
Before my daughter was born, I had lots of clothes for her from hand-me-downs, clearance sales, and baby showers. I painted foam door hangers (to match her room decor!) to hang in her closet and separate the sizes: 0-3 Months, 3-6 Months, and all the way up to 5T. Now, when I buy something on clearance for next year, I know exactly where to put it.
My email is briannemclark@yahoo.com
Rinse the shower and squeegy it after showering to keep soap scum at bay!
stneal (at) gmail dot com
I know this isn’t very creative, but planning a weekly menu and making a specific shopping list saves me so much time in the long run!
Wow! What a great giveaway! Thanks for putting it out there. One of my my favorite new things is the Tide To Go pen! I am forever spilling something and the Tide to Go pen is a lifesaver. No more ruined shirts or walking around w/a mess for the rest of the day. And, with coupons, you can get it pretty inexpensively! Thanks again for the giveaway and a great website!
- ashburnmom@live.com
We have 7 people who live with us. I have found that organization, labeling, charts, and structure is a must! By doing so, everyone knows what is expected of them and cleaning becomes easy and even sometimes fun!
Thanks so much for including me. I would really be siked to win this as we go thru paper products as if it is going out of style!!!
I keep a pack of plastic clothespins in the kitchen. They are great for closing up chip or frozen veggie bags. Additionally, you can use a clothespin to “anchor” a sponge to the top rack of your dishwasher for cleaning. No need to worry about the sponge coming loose during a cycle.
Rather than buying dryer sheets, I use liquid fabric softner, and apply a little to a moistened or wet washcloth and put in the dryer.
brn2lisn{at}gmail{dot}com
Keep up with the icky projects each day so they don’t pile up
I invite people over to force myself to clean! Is that bad???
i use paper towel and toilet paper rolls to store cords in.
I keep a spray bottle of vingear and water in my kitchen. Spray it on my kitchen sink and wipe off with scott towel and stainless shines.
This is such a time saver ~ Every time you empty a waste basket in bedrooms and bath or the garbage bin in the kitchen, put 2-3 new ones at the bottom of the container. This way you don’t have to go looking for another bag whenever you need one.
In a pinch I have used paper towels as coffee filters.
When chopping onions/other vegies, I try to figure out how much I will need for the whole week so I only have to do it once. Also, cooking several things at the same time–since I’ll be in the kitchen anyways–to help with preparation of other meals.
kristenbarnes@bellsouth.net
I appreciate the contest and these helpful tips.
We have everyone leave their shoes just inside the door. This cuts down on how much cleaning needs to be done. – Lora
I like to have a tote to carry the cleaners and paper towels and rags.
Here’s a good tip to cut down on chemical use. Mix borax and white vinegar and a small squirt of dish soap into a thin paste. Use it with a scrub brush or rag for the tub/shower/sinks. It works better than any of the multitude of expensive lung choking powders and sprays I’ve tried! Thanks for the giveaway!
Our trash day is Monday, so I have always made it a habit to clean out the fridge the evening before trash day. Make it habit and you won’t be finding furry food again!
To help cut down on the amount of dishes my kids go through, I bought some cheap cups. On tham I wrote their names with a Sharpie. Now they use the same glass all day. Since I’ve done this, we are only running the dishwasher once a day instead of twice!
I have a bunch of rubbermaid drawers that I keep snacks in for my kids for school. Each child has his own drawer and we put 10 snacks in them in the beginning of the week (One for their lunch, one for after school) That way they can pick what they want and know what they can have later without 5 different mouths asking me “What can I have to eat for snack, Mom?”
Works out well!
My whole househole does fiftenn minutes of cleaning each day. Just fifteen minutes and our house stays clean.
Wash your clothes in cold water. They come out just as clean, and you save on your energy bills by using less hot water.
Once a month, I go “weed out” old clothes and things we don’t use. I take it all to a church or thrift store that day, so we avoid the old “maybe we SHOULD keep that” routine! Thanks!
Use your hair conditioner to shave your legs. It’s a lot cheaper than shaving cream and leaves your legs really smooth. It’s also a great way to use up the conditioner you bought but didn’t like when you tried it in your hair…trinitygsd at yahoo dot com
One of my favorite tips is so very useful – When you buy bar soap, take the wrapper off and lay it in a basket in your bathroom. It will give your bathroom a pleasant scent and make the soap last longer.
willitara at gmail dot com
Here’s a tip to chill soda pops in 2 minutes. Put the cans in a container full of ice then sprinkle salt all over the ice and stir. I swear the drink chills in only 2 minutes!
1/4 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar down your drains once a month, will keep them clean and it is safe too!
Try to spend at least 5 minutes a day in each room or area of your house picking up or cleaning something in that room so on your major cleaning day it isn’t so overwhelming.
My favorite tip is this one! “Before pouring tomato sauce into a plastic bowl, spray it first with non-stick spray so the bowl won’t stain.” thats an amazing tip! thats a huge problem for me…
P.S. what a great giveaway! I LOVE Scott!
Alexia in Las Vegas
alexiamiguel@hotmail.com
I’m definitely glad I learned to follow my mother’s advice of “clean up as you go”, it’s so much easier to clean up small jobs as they come along then wait and tackle a huge mess.
I always toss my squeezed/zested lemons, limes or oranges down the garbage disposal for a nice fresh scent.
My tip
I have 3 plastic bins place by the back door. Every evening each child gets his/her bin and circles the house collecting his/her toys, clothing, etc…Then puts them away.
Thank you for the great giveaway!
themonkinme(at)gmail(dot)com
The easiest way to clean is to keep up with all the clutter. Spend 15 minutes a day on picking up cluttered area, that way you won’t have to spend all day cleaning on your weekend.
jwright at iowatelecom dot net
I usually scrub the bathtub walls while I take a shower. It really saves time.
I use the plastic bags from the store as waste basket liners.
use Q-tips to get into small spaces.
egreca (at) hotmail {dot} com
I wash baseball caps in the dishwasher.
I keep a roll of paper towels in the bathroom too. As a very busy mommy, I like to do some light cleaning whenever I have a second – like when my 3 year old daughter is taking a bath.
Lemon juice down the garbage disposal gets rid of odors.
Polish crome with rubbing alcohol.
Shoes off in the house. Before I started a family I thought it was crazy to tell people to take off their shoes before they entered your house, but boy, does it make a difference!
Also, invest in a Roomba! It’s the best thing to happen to our two dog family!
To keep clutter from building up in our home, I have a seasonal purging session. One day each season I go through everything!!! I toss what is yucky, pack away sellable items for summer yardsales, consign what I can, and take inventory of what is needed. Its great!
I try to impress on my kids the importance of cleaning as you go. The less clutter and mess you create today, the less you’ll have to clean tomorrow!! You’d be surprised just how much time this really saves!
I use caddies to keep all of my cleaning supplies organized (including cleaners, scrubbers, and paper towels). I keep one upstairs and one downstairs — that way, everything I need is in one place and is easy to carry from room to room while I clean. I also keep a vacuum and a broom both upstairs and down.
So I had a huge problem with doing the dishes. I hated them. Well finally got sick of fighting with my husband about them. And I made up a calender. 21 days to break a habit. And I would do the dishes each day for 21 days, then check off each day. And at the end I would reward myself with something. Well guess what? I did them for 21 days. He it wasn’t so bad. And I am still doing the dishes everyday. If you keep up with the dishes, its not so bad
I could not get by without my handy kitchen calendar, I use it for organizing everything.
My tip to keep your home looking tidy is that for 15 minutes, I pick up and declutter all the things the kids leave laying around. A quick dust and wipe down of counters, and everything looks tidy.
I keep cleaning supplies organized in baskets, so when I go to clean the bathroom, all the bathroom stuff is in 1 basket, etc.
I love the tip about using vinegar for 90% of all cleaning.
I have switched from my old chemical cleaners to vinegar & water. Cleans almost anything and costs next to nothing and no chemicals. Thanks for the chance to win your great giveaway!
proudyaya04 {at} yahoo {dot} com
Make cleaning up fun for the kids and they make great helpers. Turn on the radio and dance and clean with the kids. Gets done faster and its a good bonding time.
I love my candle warmer! It makes the scent of my candles so much stronger throughout my whole house. Since I started using people always comment on how good my house smells:)
ggp42304@hotmail.com
I wash almost everything in the dishwasher: my glasses, sponges, baby toys, you name it. Just make sure that what you put in there isn’t going to melt.
sparkofutterance@hotmail.com
Whenever I shampoo my carpets, I always put in a tablespoon of vinegar. It keeps dinginess out of the carpet. Lpwilmer@aol.com
I use vinegar to clean just about everything. It is cheap and cleans really good.
erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net
I open the clothes dryer’s lint trap with a screwdriver and vacuum out the excess lint.
To save time down the road I clean up every mess right when it is made. It is so much easier to wipe up spilled jelly or juice when it is fresh then to scrub it off the floor or counter after it has dried on. I keep cleaning wipes handy in most rooms to help with all the little messes that my toddler creates throughout the day.
I set my timer to do cleaning and household projects, saying that I will only do it until the timer goes off in 15 minutes, or 10, depedning on the task. I’ve found that a lot of tasks I dread doing and put off actually take less time than that which makes it much easier to get motivated to do the next time!
My best tip is to call Molly Maids. I dislike house cleaning but it’s something that has to be done. My mother taught me a good tip years ago to keep my garbage disposal clean. I put my used lemon pieces in the disposal and it keeps it clean and smelling nice.
This is one tip I will have to try- “Put baking soda in a stinky sink drain, add a cup of vinegar and let it bubble up. Leave for 10 minutes, then rinse with hot water. No more stinky sink!” Thanks for the giveaway!
braaisjo at gmail dot com
Go and purchase a empty spray bottle and add half water and bleach and use it on your white counters and stove tops and your sinks, its cheaper then buying fantastic sprays.
I clip my kitchen sponges with a clothespin on the top rack of the dishwasher to clean! senekers@comcast.net
I put dryer sheets in the bottoms of our trashcans and also in drawers.
i alwaYS keep vinegar handy, best cleaner ever
Clean a little every day so it’s not overwhelming.
I wipe down the sinks every morning and the counters and they seem to stay nice all week.
I have 4 cats that shed alot, so i got a furminator deshedding brush and brush them out every day.
kadia3 at yahoo dot com
one thing I find useful is to spray the sink down with clorox cleaner after cleaning up the kitchen, just leat it sit in the sink, it cleans it self.
seriously it does LOL
I agree with the previous poster..My tip is to always clean a little bit at a time, since I started doing this it’s much easier to get things done.
My laundry room gets pretty dusty so I use a dryer sheet to wipe things down. This works way better than just using a dry dust cloth. Thank you!
I use a diluted bleach solution in a spray bottle to wipe down counters door knobs and etc. Less germs better health. Also I love Scott towels,
When painting and you have to stop for a while, put the paint roller in a plastic bag and wrap up tightly. The next time you need it, it will still be ready to use and no need for cleanup until you are totally finished!
reginalogan@msn.com
While I’m in the shower everyday, I take an extra washcloth and put a glob of shampoo on it and wipe down the shower walls, faucet, tub. Just doing that and wiping it dry afterwards keeps it clean all the time, it never gets so dirty that you need harsh cleaners to take care of it. It takes about 2 minutes a day.
i put the kitchen sponge in the dishwasher… do they realize how many paper towels we use when you have a small child? Great giveaway.
Limiting eating to the kitchen really does keep the carpet a lot cleaner.
A plumber said to use Scott’s toilet paper because it breaks down so well in the pipes. Other brands cause clogs and do not break down very well.
Dampen a SCOTT Towel to easily wipe up pet hairs from your couch, chairs, etc. Done and do it.