How to Speed Through Household Cleaning Tasks

Whether you’re pressed for time before dinner guests arrive or simply overwhelmed with the amount of items on your to-do list, just about everyone could use some help when it comes to cleaning. Here are a few smart ways to help you speed through household cleaning tasks.

  • Work in a circle. Instead of attacking things in each room at random, make a plan to work in a circle. In the kitchen, that might mean wiping down the refrigerator and tossing out expired foods, giving the stove a good scrub, wiping down counter and tabletops, then loading the dishwasher last.
  • Start with the worst first. If you dread cleaning the bathroom or tidying up the bedroom, start with that room first. By getting the hardest part out of the way when you have the most energy, you’ll speed through the rest of your chores.
  • Take inventory while cleaning. If you notice that something doesn’t need to be cleaned, such as the already-spotless windows, then eliminate it from the list to save time. Unless it’s something requiring sanitization, like the toilet, there’s no shame in leaving it be.
  • Do a final sweep. Once you’re done with the major cleaning tasks, give your home a final sweep, putting everything in its right place and creating an organized look.

Speed Cleaning [The Inspired Room]
30 Quick and Easy Cleaning Tips [Woman’s Day]
9 Tips For Speed Cleaning [About Home]
Clean Your Home in Less than 20 Minutes [SheKnows]

Open a New Chapter at the New Braunfels Public Library

If your idea of a library includes shushing librarians and dusty old tomes, then you're overdue for a visit to the New Braunfels Public Library. Owned by the city of New Braunfels, this modern library gives residents access to a catalog of more than 107,000 items—for free! It's all part of the library's mission: "To provide the community with equal access to physical and virtual environments that support and encourage lifelong learning and enrichment."

Materials available for check out span books and magazines to music and movies. What's more, the New Braunfels Public Library frequently plays host to community events such as storytimes, book and language clubs, writing workshops, lecture series, and much more!

New Braunfels Public Library
700 E Common St.
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(830) 221-4300
www.nbtexas.org/114/Library

Tell Mosquitoes to Buzz Off With These Household Recipes for Bug Repellent

We all know that a bite from a mosquito can cause redness, swelling, and an uncomfortable amount of itching. Thankfully, there are many different ways to keep mosquitoes away using all natural ingredients. Follow these simple tips and natural repellent recipes to keep the mosquitoes away this summer.

  • You can easily make your own citronella candles to place around your outdoor space. Citronella essential oil is known to be one of the most effective ways to repel mosquitoes.
  • Mosquitoes hate lavender. To keep them out of your home, add a few drops of lavender oil onto a ribbon and place the ribbon around open windows. This is sure to keep them from entering.
  • Make your own repellent spray using oils such as citronella, lemongrass, and eucalyptus to spray on your skin before you go outside.
  • You can also make your repellent spray out of geranium, tea tree, and peppermint.
  • You can also easily make your own repellent lotion using coconut oil, peppermint, lavender, or clove essential oil.

13 Natural Ways To Keep Mosquitoes Away [Natural Living Ideas]
All-Natural Homemade Bug Spray Recipes That Work! [Wellness Mama]
DIY: Homemade Insect Repellent Sprays and Lotions [Inhabitat]

Stay Cool (and in Shape!) With These Summer Fitness Tips

Taking your workout outdoors this summer? Staying hydrated and maintaining your body’s electrolytes and salts is crucial, especially during hot weather. Keep these tips in mind before breaking a sweat this season!

  • Running at the right hour of the day is important. You want to avoid exercising outside between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. because the sun is strongest then.
  • Wear light colors to reflect the sun and opt for cotton or other lighweight, sweat-wicking fabrics. Also be sure to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF.
  • You want to drink 7 to 10 ounces of water every 15 minutes, even when you’re not thirsty. Continue to drink water before and after your workout.
  • Refrain from drinking hot coffee before your workout. It can leave you dehydrated and can prevent your body from cooling down effectively.
  • Eat a snack with protein and carbohydrates 30 minutes after your workout.

5 Ways to Exercise Safely in the Heat [U.S. News]
8 Tips for Exercising in Summer Heat [Active]
Essential Tips for Outdoor Exercise [Arm & Hammer]

New Facebook Sweepstakes! Enter to Win an iPad Mini!

To enter the Sweepstakes, visit our Facebook Page and then look for the Sweepstakes tab (image shown below) located on our Facebook Page to enter. Sweepstakes ends August 31st, 2016. We suggest you like our page to keep informed about future sweepstakes and community happenings.

For mobile users, click here to enter.

Chef-Approved Tips for Cleaning a Cast Iron Skillet

The trusty cast iron skillet is a mainstay in any home chef’s kitchen, but it’s also one of the most confusing items when it comes to its care. Should you wash it with water? Try a salt scrub? These chef-approved tips will show you exactly how to clean your cast iron skillet properly — and tell you which techniques you should never use!

  • Never use soap. No matter what you do, never soak your skillet in soapy water. This removes the natural, nonstick coating that comes from frequent use and oil absorption.
  • Clean it while still warm. This makes it much easier to remove food particles.
  • Use a stiff brush. Using a stiff brush made of natural materials that won’t melt, run the skillet under hot water and give it a good scrubbing. This will remove food without stripping it of its natural oils and seasonings.
  • Sprinkle on salt. To remove particularly built-up food particles, sprinkle coarse Kosher salt on the surface of the pan. Scrub it dry, and then run water over the surface to remove the salt.
  • Dry. Dry your pan using a clean towel or by letting it sit on the stove on low heat.
  • Season. Finally, apply a light coating of oil or shortening to lock in that lovely seasoning.

How To Clean and Season an Old, Rusty Cast Iron Skillet [Apartment Therapy]
Cleaning and Seasoning a Cast-Iron Skillet [Real Simple]
How To Clean a Cast Iron Skillet [The Kitchn]

Happy Fourth of July!

Wishing you a Fourth of July filled with pride, honor, and lots of fun!

Enjoy a Comfort Food Feast at The Buttermilk Cafe

The Buttermilk Cafe gives New Braunfels Texas residents comfort food with an upscale twist. The sights and smells enjoyed in this cozy ambiance will remind visitors of a family feast at home. Regulars mention the food is always amazing and many drive from Sequin or San Marcos for a meal. The employees are friendly and fast, and the establishment is very kid friendly, too.

The food offerings are vast and unique. We personally recommend the chicken and waffles or the complimentary coffee cake for those dining in. The place does get packed on the weekend, so call ahead to ensure seating once you arrive, especially if you have a large group!

The Buttermilk Cafe
1324 East Common Street
New Braunfels TX 78130
(830) 625-8700
www.thebuttermilkcafe.com

Happy Father’s Day!

Today is a chance for us to recognize some very important people in our lives. May this day bring you many reasons to smile!

Happy Father’s Day!

How to Use Borax Around the Home

If you haven’t yet experimented with the wonders of borax, you’re missing out on a versatile household cleaner that could help to consolidate many of your chores. This unique, all-natural substance consists of sodium borate, and it makes a powerful cleanser, drain cleaner, and much more. Here are a few ways to use it.

  • Mix 2 tablespoons of borax with two cups of hot water to create an all-purpose cleaner for around the house.
  • Clear a blocked drain by mixing 1/2 cup of borax with two cups of boiling water. Pour the solution down the drain and let it sit for 15 minutes before running water to flush it away.
  • Get stains out of your sink by making a paste of one cup of borax and 1/4 cup of lemon juice. Scrub the paste into the stain with a sponge and rinse with hot water.
  • Clean carpets naturally by using 1/2 cup of borax per gallon of water in the steam cleaner.
  • Clean pots, pans, and porcelain cookware by sprinkling borax on their surfaces and rubbing with a slightly damp cloth.

Borax Changed My Life! [Stacy Makes Cents]
30 Little-Known Uses for Household Borax [One Good Thing]
Borax and 25 Ways to Use It [Apartment Therapy]

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