SPRING CLEANING GUIDE

The flowers are blooming, the birds are serenading, and our house still feels like it's stuck with winter blues. Spring cleaning is a tradition that allows us to freshen up our homes and get a head start on the hectic seasons of spring and summer. What do you need help spring cleaning?

Set aside at least a week for a thorough spring cleaning. Work from one end of your house to the other.

1. Plan some easy meals for the days you will spend cleaning.  Consider using your slow cooker.  A crockpot full of stew at the end of a day of intense cleaning is a beautiful thing!
2. As you clean, keep a list of any jobs you notice that need to be done around the house: little paint touch-ups or a pillow that needs to be mended.  Don't get distracted by these chores during your cleaning, save them for when you are done.  (Or else you may never be done!)
3. Keep another list of things you notice you need.  Especially when you clean out your fridge and pantry, you will probably become aware of some supplies you are out of or running low on.
4. Take an empty laundry basket and pile in it anything you need your hubby to sort through (miscellaneous receipts you're not sure you need to keep, random bolts and screws you've found in his pocket a year ago but you're afraid to get rid of because if you do he's sure to come to you tomorrow asking if you've seen that little bolt that is vital for something or other, that singing Christmas tie you're really hoping he'll finally part with... you get the point!)  Ask him to sort through the basket when he has a chance. 

A VERY THOROUGH SPRING CLEANING CHECKLIST
FOYER/ENTRY

1. Dust lighting fixtures.
2. Wash walls and trim
3. Wash doors, knobs and switch plates.
4. Wash bench or other furnishings.  Launder bench cushion, if applicable.
5. Empty out coat closet.  Wash walls and floor.  Sort items as you return them to the closet.  Store out of season items, donate unneeded items. 
6. Clean or replace entry mat.
7. Sweep and scrub floors.  
8. Reseal grout lines, if applicable.

BEDROOMS
Open windows

1. Dust furniture.
2. For each drawer: remove items, wash drawer, place items back neatly.  Donate Items you no longer need. 
3.  Remove everything from closets.  wash closet walls if necessary.  Sweep and wash closet floor. Put everything back neatly.  Donate items you no longer need.  Do not store things on closet floor.
4. Move Bed.  Sort and put away anything that was under bed.  Sweep or vacuum under bed.  Try not to store things under bed.
5. Put bed back.  Flip mattress. Vacuum both sides.
6. Launder bedding and curtains.  Wash pillows and duvet in hot water.  Air out mattress pad, if you have one.
7. Dust lights. Clean lamp shades.
8. Wash windows and window sills.  Take out and wash window screens.
9. Wash switch plates.  Wash walls and trim.
10. Wash mirrors or dust art.
11. Wash doors and doorknobs.
12. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.
13. Sweep and wash floor or vacuum

BATHROOMS

1. Open windows
2. Empty all cabinets and vanity.  Wash inside, replace items neatly.  Discard expired medications and cosmetics.
3. Wash outside of cabinets and vanities
4. Clean tub. Wax if necessary. Clean drain.
5. Clean toilet, inside and out.  Remove seat and clean around seat bolts.
6. Clean sink and drain.
7. Shine faucets.
8. Clean mirror and frame .
9. Dust light fixtures. 
10. Wash windows and window sills. Take out and wash window screens.
11. Wash switch plates.  wash walls and trim.  Wash doors and door knobs.
12. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.
13.  Sweep and wash floors.  
14. Reseal grout lines.

KITCHEN

1. Open windows.
2. Remove and clean window coverings.  For each cabinet or drawer: Remove items, wipe out drawer, place items back neatly.  Donate unneeded items.
3. Wash and sanitize cutting boards
4. Sharpen knives
5. Wash cabinet doors and knobs
6. Clean and organize pantry.  Check food expiry dates.
7. Clean oven.
8. Clean stove top.  Remove elements and drip bowls, if applicable, wash and put back.
9. Clean and organize fridge and freezer.  Defrost freezer, if necessary.  Check food expiry dates.
10. Clean under fridge and stove.
11. Vacuum refrigerator coils.
12. Clean microwave.
13. Clean crumbs out of toaster.
14. Clean and descale kettle.
15. Wipe down any other counter appliances
16. wash counters and back splash.
17. Wash and shine sink.  Shine faucet. Clean drain.
18. Dust light fixtures.
19. Wash windows and window sills.  Remove window screens and wash.
20. Wash switch plates.  
21. Wash walls and trim.
22. Wash doors and door knobs.
23. Wash floor registers and other vent covers
24. Sweep and wash floor.  
25. Reseal grout lines, if applicable.

DINING ROOM

1. Open windows.
2. Wash curtains.
3. Wipe down table and chairs.
4. Wipe down or dust other furnishing.
5. clean chair pads, if applicable.
6. Polish table, if necessary
7. Create a pretty spring vignette on table!
8. Dust any displayed china or serving dishes.
9. Launder table linens.
10. Shine silverware.
11. Dust art.
12. Wash windows and window sills.  Take out and wash window screens.
13. Wash switch plates
14. Wash walls and trim.
15. Wash doors and door knobs
16. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.
17. Clean floors.

 LIVING ROOM/ FAMILY ROOM/ PLAYROOM

1. Open windows.
2. Vacuum sofas.
3. Spot clean sofas, if applicable.
4. Launder throw pillows and blankets.
5. Dust shelves, furniture and decor.
6. Clean lamps and lampshades.
7. Wash windows and window sills.
8. Take out and wash window screens.
9. Clean television screen.
10. Carefully dust electronics.
11. Tidy electronics wires.  Tuck nicely out of sight.  Label them, if practical.
12. Sort through music and DVD collections.  Purge things that no longer suit your families interests.  Organize what is left in an attractive manner.
13. Sort books and magazines.  Donate or recycle ones that no longer suit your families interests.
14. Wash hard plastic children's toys with warm soapy water. Rinse and dry.  Launder stuffed toys.  Donate or store toys that your children have grown too old for.
15. Wash switch plates.
16. Wash walls and trim.
17. Wash doors and knobs.
18. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.
19. Clean floors.

LAUNDRY ROOM

1. Open windows.
2. Wash windows and window sills.
3. Take out and wash window screens.
4. Wash cabinet doors.
5. Wash inside cabinets.
6. Wash laundry sink.  Shine faucet.  Clean drains.
7. Wash outside of washer and dryer.
8. Wash inside of washing machine.
9. Wash lint trap.
10. Wash switch plates.
11. Wash walls and trim.
12. Wash doors and door knobs.
13. Wash floor registers and other vent covers.
14. sweep and wash floors. 
15. Reseal grout lines, if applicable. 

STAIRWELLS

1. sweep/vacuum stairs
2. Spot clean walls.
3. Wipe down handrail.
4. Dust art and light fixtures.

OUTSIDE

1. Sweep porches and walkway.
2. Wash thresholds.
3. Wash exterior doors.  Give front door a fresh coat of paint, if necessary.
4. Clean or replace welcome mat.
5. Wash siding.

REMEMBER TO:

• Clean blades of ceiling fans.
• Sort through and organize family photographs (digitally or into albums).
• Sort through paperwork and discard unneeded files.  Date and file important documents in an orderly manner.
• Sort and clean any extra zones such as linen closets, utility closets and office spaces.

Happy Cleaning!
Stay tuned for how to make your own cleaning products on a budget

HAPPY FATHERS DAY



Proud Dad with Shanay and Koby

Hope you had a special day with your loved ones today. What did you do to celebrate Fathers Day today?

Damien volunteered to do overtime at work for half a day today because no one else wanted to do it. So Mr K and I went and visited my pop this morning and then my other grandfather for lunch. This afternoon we had my father & mother in law over for afternoon tea. We are very lucky to have most of our family close by. Shanay, Damien, Mr K and I then went for a family walk this afternoon.

My first challenge into our Finance Fast was deciding what to make as gifts without going to the shops. I made all the Fathers/Grandfathers chocolate truffles and slices. I've never made truffles before, so it was a bit of fun learning. I googled truffle recipes and couldn't believe how many different types you can make - orange, Turkish delight, Christmas etc. The Turkish delight ones were a bit of a disaster so I had to make them into a slice. Cooking with chocolate is so messy!

Recipe for Chocolate Truffles

Makes 20

INGREDIENTS

225g good-quality dark chocolate, broken into small pieces

175ml double cream

Icing sugar, to dust

Cocoa powder, sifted, to roll

Place chocolate in a large mixing bowl. Place cream in a saucepan and bring to the boil, then immediately pour over chocolate. Mix until chocolate has melted. (This is called a ganache.) Set aside at room temperature, covered, for 1-1 1/2 hours to cool completely and until set. Use a teaspoon to spoon out bite-sized pieces. Dust your hands with a little icing sugar to prevent them sticking and roll mixture into balls in the palm of your hands. Roll in cocoa; serve with coffee.

I also made my Father in law a 2012 photo calendar as I love to scrapbook. Hopefully they enjoy their gifts.

Kids are our greatest teachers in making simple thoughtful gifts for loved ones. Shanay made Damien a beautiful poem laminated with motorbike pictures on the reverse and Mr K made him a car with all colourful bits glued on it - which acts like a smelly tree for his car.

What innovative gift ideas do you have your loved ones?

CLOTHES SWAP PARTY - IT'S FUN, IT'S FREE, IT'S GREEN

Only 1 month into our Finance Fast and it was time for some retail therapy - But I'm not allowed to buy anything new - so what is a girl to do when she wants some new clothes for the coming season? Hold a Clothes Swap Party.

So I went through my wardrobe and managed to part with 20 items - some dresses I've worn to weddings/balls a few times, a brand new pair of bikinis, trackie pants with tag still on I bought whilst on holidays in Cairns but couldn't be bothered trying on, tops that don't look right anymore (post baby body) and some accessories I don't use anymore. Created an event on facebook (no cost, it's free), sent reminder text messages 5 days prior and gave everyone the opportunity to preview before hand who couldn't make it on the day and lent a clothes rack from a friend.

Planet ark have an excellent site on how to host a swap party:

http://recyclingweek.planetark.org/involvement/swap.cfm

They even have stationary you can print out for the swap - swap tokens, display cards, signs, invites etc

The last 2 days have been absolutely overwhelming - generous people just wanting to have a clean out, a person who didn't have much luck trying to sell on facebook and couldn't be bothered doing the eBay thing. Some didn't even want to swap just happy to donate. We had almost 100 items and the swap hadn't even started. Brands galore .... Cooper St, Miss Shop, Bardot, Volcolm, Naked Art, Backstage, Roxy, Rusty, Insight, Ripcurl, Billabong, Picnic, Aztec Rose - just to name a few.

My cousin scored really well - a ball dress still with tags, that new bikini, a new summer dress she can wear on holiday to Bali soon, a dress she can wear to work and more!

We all left really happy with what we had swapped as they say 'one persons trash is another persons treasure'.

I'm so glad I've now experienced a swap party, I now have some beautiful items I can enjoy wearing through the coming summer months.

Left over items can be donated to charity or given to a family you may know that are doing it tough (single mums with teenagers etc).

There are other types of swap parties you can host as well - Kids toys/clothes, home wares etc.

Why don't you hold your own Swap Party? Go on an give it a go - you might really enjoy it!

Remember - It's Fun, It's Free, It's Green