Common Sense – A Giveaway!

by Christine - From Dates to Diapers on August 23, 2008

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!

  • Leave your favorite household tip in the comments section below. This can be a time saving tip, organizational tip, cleaning tip, healthy tip, or any other tip you may have to share. Be creative!
  • 1 winner will be chosen at random on August 31st at 9pm (PST). The winner will be notified via email, so make sure you leave a valid email address in your comment.
  • Contest is only open to US residents.

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.


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{ 335 comments… read them below or add one }

Mel, A Dramatic Mommy August 27, 2008 at 8:04 am

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!

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Izzie August 27, 2008 at 9:58 am

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.

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Anonymous August 27, 2008 at 10:15 am

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

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babycat1216 August 27, 2008 at 10:36 am

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!

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sphinx63 August 27, 2008 at 11:23 am

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!

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Sara August 27, 2008 at 11:44 am

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

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Deanne02 August 27, 2008 at 12:04 pm

Use rubbing alcohol to remove the adhesive from stickers on glass.

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Barbara August 27, 2008 at 1:41 pm

I use lemon scented ammonia for all window & wall washing.
It cuts through all grease.

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justusseven August 27, 2008 at 2:03 pm

My favorite tip was washing clothes in cold water to save energy. With a family of 7 I think that will really add up =)

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klp1965 August 27, 2008 at 2:11 pm

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 :)

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vmkids August 27, 2008 at 2:25 pm

take the time to do things right and you won;t have to do them again

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danandmarsh August 27, 2008 at 2:38 pm

A good tip for windows is use coffee filters!!
Boy I sure could use Scott, it is my favorite brand!!

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rbauske August 27, 2008 at 5:09 pm

Boil lemon water in the microwave, it leaves it smelling fresh and easy to clean.

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amyparsons1@yahoo.com August 27, 2008 at 6:41 pm

I keep tubes and plastic wrap for recycle art for the girls.

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Barbara August 27, 2008 at 9:46 pm

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

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ladyxmess August 27, 2008 at 9:51 pm

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!

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sandis3 August 27, 2008 at 9:54 pm

I like to make my celery last longer so I store it in tinfoil. Works like a charm.

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Ardy22 August 28, 2008 at 12:06 am

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.

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Lois August 28, 2008 at 12:52 am

We use a lot of white vinegar. Cleans, sanitizes and helps to control ants.

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Belinda August 28, 2008 at 1:08 am

I use a toothbrush to clean tight places like around sinks.
Thanks!
1bmore @ gmail . com

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brandy August 28, 2008 at 6:21 am

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/

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laurie August 28, 2008 at 7:27 am

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.

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HerMommy August 28, 2008 at 7:36 am

Use vinegar and water for cleaning. Natural and cheap!

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The Clark Family August 28, 2008 at 8:00 am

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

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Stacey August 28, 2008 at 8:01 am

Rinse the shower and squeegy it after showering to keep soap scum at bay!

stneal (at) gmail dot com

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Sara August 28, 2008 at 8:34 am

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!

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Anne August 28, 2008 at 9:25 am

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

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This Journey of Mine August 28, 2008 at 10:31 am

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!!!

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Juice August 28, 2008 at 12:15 pm

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.

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Kimberly L August 28, 2008 at 1:19 pm

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

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dvice August 28, 2008 at 1:52 pm

Keep up with the icky projects each day so they don’t pile up

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Sandy August 28, 2008 at 2:24 pm

I invite people over to force myself to clean! Is that bad???

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madangle August 28, 2008 at 2:30 pm

i use paper towel and toilet paper rolls to store cords in.

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phogle August 28, 2008 at 3:16 pm

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.

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Ginny August 28, 2008 at 3:26 pm

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.

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idahodad7 August 28, 2008 at 3:32 pm

In a pinch I have used paper towels as coffee filters.

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Anonymous August 28, 2008 at 4:58 pm

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

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Anonymous August 28, 2008 at 5:32 pm

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

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Ida August 28, 2008 at 6:30 pm

I like to have a tote to carry the cleaners and paper towels and rags.

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jjampm August 28, 2008 at 7:11 pm

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!

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Pamela Murphy August 28, 2008 at 7:26 pm

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!

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paula h August 28, 2008 at 7:52 pm

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!

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Couponbabe August 29, 2008 at 4:07 am

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!

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dani August 29, 2008 at 5:46 am

My whole househole does fiftenn minutes of cleaning each day. Just fifteen minutes and our house stays clean.

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scosta0529(at)yahoo(dot)com August 29, 2008 at 6:03 am

Wash your clothes in cold water. They come out just as clean, and you save on your energy bills by using less hot water.

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Teresa August 29, 2008 at 7:22 am

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!

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Anonymous August 29, 2008 at 7:26 am

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

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Betty C August 29, 2008 at 8:19 am

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

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happygirl August 29, 2008 at 9:53 am

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!

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Tammy August 29, 2008 at 9:58 am

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!

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carol August 29, 2008 at 10:10 am

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.

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Alexia August 29, 2008 at 10:47 am

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

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Jessilyn82 August 29, 2008 at 10:51 am

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.

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Lettie August 29, 2008 at 11:30 am

I always toss my squeezed/zested lemons, limes or oranges down the garbage disposal for a nice fresh scent.

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monky August 29, 2008 at 1:24 pm

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

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Janice Wright August 29, 2008 at 2:44 pm

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

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Molly C. August 29, 2008 at 3:36 pm

I usually scrub the bathtub walls while I take a shower. It really saves time.

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diesel51 August 29, 2008 at 3:43 pm

I use the plastic bags from the store as waste basket liners.

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Erica G August 29, 2008 at 5:43 pm

use Q-tips to get into small spaces.

egreca (at) hotmail {dot} com

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Andy August 29, 2008 at 7:59 pm

I wash baseball caps in the dishwasher.

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KLF113 August 29, 2008 at 8:00 pm

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.

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Julieh August 29, 2008 at 9:06 pm

Lemon juice down the garbage disposal gets rid of odors.

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Bonnie August 29, 2008 at 10:47 pm

Polish crome with rubbing alcohol.

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Tabby August 29, 2008 at 10:56 pm

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!

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Rachel August 29, 2008 at 11:27 pm

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!

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Cataroo August 30, 2008 at 6:42 am

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!

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Jana August 30, 2008 at 8:58 am

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.

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rockandtiff2002@aol.com August 30, 2008 at 9:08 am

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 :)

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LMcLendon August 30, 2008 at 9:24 am

I could not get by without my handy kitchen calendar, I use it for organizing everything.

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Linda August 30, 2008 at 10:00 am

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.

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tesashel August 30, 2008 at 10:28 am

I keep cleaning supplies organized in baskets, so when I go to clean the bathroom, all the bathroom stuff is in 1 basket, etc.

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Sahm Lee August 30, 2008 at 11:28 am

I love the tip about using vinegar for 90% of all cleaning.

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TXsunlover August 30, 2008 at 12:02 pm

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

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reddon30 August 30, 2008 at 12:22 pm

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.

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Anonymous August 30, 2008 at 12:40 pm

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

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Tiffanie W. August 30, 2008 at 12:51 pm

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

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Anonymous August 30, 2008 at 1:56 pm

Whenever I shampoo my carpets, I always put in a tablespoon of vinegar. It keeps dinginess out of the carpet. Lpwilmer@aol.com

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Erma August 30, 2008 at 3:01 pm

I use vinegar to clean just about everything. It is cheap and cleans really good.
erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net

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Alexis August 30, 2008 at 5:35 pm

I open the clothes dryer’s lint trap with a screwdriver and vacuum out the excess lint.

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Erin August 30, 2008 at 6:19 pm

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.

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Ms. Sarah August 30, 2008 at 6:21 pm

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!

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SeahorseLady August 30, 2008 at 6:30 pm

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.

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tlcfromtn August 30, 2008 at 6:36 pm

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

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MCJunkie August 30, 2008 at 7:01 pm

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.

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Anonymous August 30, 2008 at 7:06 pm

I clip my kitchen sponges with a clothespin on the top rack of the dishwasher to clean! senekers@comcast.net

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Julie Vineyard August 30, 2008 at 7:59 pm

I put dryer sheets in the bottoms of our trashcans and also in drawers.

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Jolene August 30, 2008 at 8:09 pm

i alwaYS keep vinegar handy, best cleaner ever

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Gianna August 30, 2008 at 8:17 pm

Clean a little every day so it’s not overwhelming.

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blacarly August 30, 2008 at 8:52 pm

I wipe down the sinks every morning and the counters and they seem to stay nice all week.

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Anonymous August 30, 2008 at 11:21 pm

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

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Amanda August 30, 2008 at 11:23 pm

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

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Clarissa August 30, 2008 at 11:30 pm

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.

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crystalf August 31, 2008 at 12:08 am

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!

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Anonymous August 31, 2008 at 1:05 am

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,

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Regina August 31, 2008 at 5:15 am

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

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pitaharmon August 31, 2008 at 5:54 am

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.

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Buki Family August 31, 2008 at 6:06 am

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.

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Crazycat August 31, 2008 at 7:41 am

Limiting eating to the kitchen really does keep the carpet a lot cleaner.

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Anna August 31, 2008 at 8:00 am

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.

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dhunt August 31, 2008 at 8:28 am

Dampen a SCOTT Towel to easily wipe up pet hairs from your couch, chairs, etc. Done and do it.

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