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When Life Gives You Lemons, Use Them to Clean! Here’s How!

June 16, 2016 by

Did you know that lemons work as a natural disinfectant, a stain remover, a polish for metals, and so much more? Try these simple cleaning tips using the power of citrus!

  • Scrub your dirty dishes or plastic containers with a recently juiced lemon and a little bit of coarse salt to remove any stains or smells. This also works for wooden cutting boards.
  • Rub some lemon juice on a sponge and leave it in your refrigerator for several hours to remove any odors.
  • Give your microwave a good cleaning by mixing three tablespoons of lemon juice and one and a half cups of water into a microwave-safe bowl. Place the bowl into your microwave and put it on high for five to ten minutes. Then just wipe away any remaining spots with a dishrag.
  • Make your own eco-friendly household cleaner with citrus peels and white vinegar. Simply place citrus peels in a glass mason jar, then pour enough vinegar over top to cover the peels. Let the mixture infuse for two weeks, then strain out the vinegar into a spray bottle!

Cleaning With Lemon Juice [DIY Network]
10 Clever Ways to Clean With a Lemon [The Kitchn]
34 Useful Reasons to Load Up On Lemons [Reader’s Digest]

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How to Speed Through Household Cleaning Tasks

January 21, 2016 by

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]

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Party Safe: Tips for Serving a Safe Food Buffet

June 19, 2014 by

When you have a large group of people over for dinner, serving food buffet-style ensures that everyone gets exactly what they want. But how can you be sure that everything stays fresh, from appetizers to dessert? Here are a few tips for serving a safe food buffet.

  1. Buy foods at the proper temperature. Things like fried chicken, casseroles, and ice cream should be kept at the same temperature from the store to the buffet table, as changing their temperatures too much can cause food to spoil.
  2. Know the proper temperatures. Hot food should be kept between 140° and 165° Fahrenheit, while cold food should be kept at 40° Fahrenheit and lower.
  3. Don’t leave food out for longer than two hours. Be sure to include preparation and serving in your count.
  4. Use the proper tools. To ensure that food is kept at the proper temperature, use things like slow cookers, warming trays, and nesting dishes in bowls of ice. To prevent guests from mixing foods, make sure that you provide a separate spoon, spatula, or tongs in each dish. Also provide individual bowls for dips to discourage guests from double-dipping.

Serving Up Safe Buffets [FDA]
Serving Prepared Foods Safely [Whole Foods]
Holiday or Party Buffets [USDA]

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4 Simple Living Room Organization Tips

March 20, 2014 by

Just as the name suggests, the living room is where your friends and family do most of their living. Living, however, can be pretty messy, and it can take quite a toll on even the best-laid decor plans. Here are four simple tips for organizing your living room while still keeping it comfortable.

  1. Add a wastebasket. Most homes don’t have a place in the living room for garbage, which is strange because a lot of garbage accumulates there. Add an attractive trash can in an unused corner to eliminate clutter on the tables and floor.
  2. Keep tabletop decor minimal. While coffee tables with stacks of candles, magazines, and knick-knacks may look great in magazines, it can be difficult to maintain that purposeful clutter in real life. Add one simple statement piece to your living room surfaces to give them a personal touch while still leaving room for eating, doing work, and other activities.
  3. Corral kids toys into one corner. Rather than letting the kids take over the whole room, dedicate one corner of the room to toy storage and play. Invest in a large crate or set of drawers for easy cleanup as well.
  4. Clean up your cords. A tangled clump of cords behind the television or computer looks messy and can become dangerous. Instead, purchase a few adhesive cord organizers or a whole television unit with built-in cord storage.

Tips for Maintaining an Organized Living Room [HGTV]
Room-by-Room Organization Tips [BHG]

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