(Part 3) Top products from r/homemaking

First of all, I highly recommend this book. The author is a mother of nine and is a Christian, and there is a lot of Christianity in the text, but I’m not Christian and it didn’t bother me at all. This book helped me figure out how to structure every day to get everything done. I would buy it even if it cost $100+ because it helped me so much. I reread it every so often, too.

I instituted routines that take place throughout the day, every day. We have a morning routine: wake up, bathroom, brush teeth, sunscreen, make beds, get dressed. Nothing else happens until this is done. It has saved so many tears because everyone knows what to expect, and when. Then I get breakfast prepared and they can play or use an educational game on their tablets. I only have educational games because when other things were on there it was a fight to get them to play the educational stuff; now they love it.

After breakfast we have our “after meal routine,” which the author of the above book refers to as “table chores.” I never liked the word “chore” so I don’t use it. We do this routine after every single meal, no exceptions. It gets done quickly! Here it is: take dishes to the counter, cups go on the drink tray that I keep on a shelf they can reach themselves, brush off the table, wash the table, vacuum or sweep under the table. While I’m helping with and supervising that stuff, I’m also filling a bowl or dishpan with warm, soapy water for the dishes to soak in, and another of rinse water. The kids help with the dishes. Give them a little scrub in the soapy water and then they go into the rinse water, and then to the drying rack. It seems like a lot, right? I timed it today at breakfast and it took us seven minutes from start to finish. When it’s done I say encouraging things about how shiny and pretty the kitchen looks and how they are the best helpers. I have a dust pan and brush for each child and a spray bottle for each for washing the table.

The toys are tidied up and the kids are in pajamas (more like what they will wear tomorrow, if I’m being honest) before dinner. Toys do not come back out after dinner at our house! Not unless I want tears and fighting and to probably end up in tears, myself. No thank you. Once the after meal routine is finished they can play with fluffy slime (it’s not gloopy and oozy like regular slime, or messy like play dough) or color or do something relaxing. Then we go to read books. We brush teeth halfway between book time right before I take the littlest one to bed, and then the older ones can continue reading.

I’ll add another comment when I think about more. Most of this stuff I got from that book! I really think it saved my life.

I really like this mattress protector. It's not noisy or crinkly feeling. It doesn't encase the whole bed, but rather goes on like a fitted sheet. In my case I'm dealing with a toddler who's struggling with potty training, so it being easy to quickly remove, launder & reapply is a huge plus for me. We have the same brand protector in a queen size on our own bed and it's perfectly comfortable.

I have a CLR spray that I use. I like to go from the top down so I start by spraying Windex on the mirror and using paper towel to clean it. Then I spray the counter and sink with CLR and use a wash cloth to wipe it off, rinsing frequently. Spray the entire outside of the toilet and the seat and the rim and wipe them off. I have a scrubbing bubbles toilet cleaner thing (link, don't buy it on Amazon though!!) for the inside of the toilet. For the shower/tub I again just spray everything with CLR and wipe clean. Then for the floor I just mop with Mr Clean soap and water. I also sometimes use a Scrub Free cleaner or Vim instead of CLR. I don't really notice a difference between any of them.

I stick those fish tank baggies of activated carbon (charcoal) in my closets and it helps a lot! Waaaay more effective than baking soda.

I use this brand https://www.amazon.ca/Fluval-C3-Carbon-3-Pack/dp/B003SJKW8A/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_199_bs_lp_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=NWVWDGZ6GRNST72JBZSD
You can find them in pet stores and big box stores.

Sometimes I just put them on a shelf, but they are most effective if I can hang them from something to get more air flow. I give them a little shake once and a while to get fresher carbon mixed in. They also help with humidity.

If the sink is porcelain you can use a pumice stick to get the worst of it off. It's been a lifesaver for me with gross toilets and sinks here with hard water. I also just started using an abrasive-type hard water glass cleaner that's also acceptable for stone, porcelain, and aluminum on my shower doors and it's working really well. It requires a lot of elbow grease, though. I've been using this, since it's what I have, but something like a drill brush would work even better.

I'd use a hand towel to wipe down the windows daily. You could also look into getting a small dehumidifier. I recently bought this one on Amazon to stay on top of our bathroom that never seemed to be able to dry out. I've definitely noticed a difference since starting to use it. It pulls up to 8 oz of water out of the air daily, and it's small enough to sit on the counter.

Sweater bricks are awesome for that.
Dritz Sweater Stone Clothing Care https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WUXOT2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Y4-6xb94H0Z3D

Looks like this: https://www.amazon.com/Bar-Keepers-Friend®-Cleanser-Polish/dp/B000V72992/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1520100723&sr=1-4&keywords=BAr+keepers+friend

Add just a little bit of water to make a paste. Works for a bunch of different things- also awesome on stainless steel cookware too if you get food stuck or burnt on.


I use these for quick wipes: https://www.amazon.com/Weiman-Stainless-Steel-Wipes-Count/dp/B00Q8VI480/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1520100859&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=stainless+steel+wipes&psc=1

Maybe there's a similar brand in the U.K.?

Clean with soap and water, use soft scrub and a toothbrush to remove it. If it doesn't come out it might have gone too deep in which case it would have to be replaced, or you can cover it with something.

Soft Scrub: https://smile.amazon.com/Soft-Scrub-Purpose-Kitchen-Cleanser/dp/B000RPXSDY?th=1 should be able to find it easily at your local grocery store though

You could buy drill attachments like this and this, or you could make your own.

Bottles like these:

https://www.amazon.com/Medline-DYND70125-MEDLINE-Perineal-Irrigation/dp/B000TQGXW4/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1499190497&sr=8-1&keywords=Perineal+Irrigation+Bottle%2C

should work for what you need. They are designed to squirt lady parts after childbirth, so they squirt on an upwards angle.

Not really what you asked, but I got one of these to keep the dogs off our sofa. We have the dogs trained to not get on the sofa without permission when we're home, but when we're gone all bets are off. The sofa scram works, but you do have to remember to put it on the sofa.

https://www.amazon.com/Evriholder-FURemover-Squeegee-Multi-Surface-Telescoping/dp/B000EFDOOA/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Rubber+broom&qid=1559180842&s=gateway&sr=8-3

I've seen folks use plastic storage containers like this one, maybe bring a car with you to The Container Store or JoAnn's and find a case that fits your need.

Alternatively, Hot Wheels makes storage for this reason! Here's an example.

We just invested in this machine because the water/dirty water reservoirs are large so that they don't have to be emptied/refilled as often and they can be dumped in the toilet, refilled at the kitchen sink or bathtub. Here's the link:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00450U6CS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Otherwise, rent a rug doctor or pay a service to come clean the carpet.

This mesh scrubber removed toilet grime that I had spent a year intermittently trying like hell to remove. It will not scratch your porcelain. I pushed the water into the toilet with a regular toilet brush and then went to town with this guy. Bonus, it also works to remove grime around sink faucets. I promise this will work.