Welcome to Mom Tips

Crayon Marks on the Walls?

The one and only thing I´ve ever found that will successfully remove crayon marks from a wall is a nifty little product called Goo Gone. I think you can get it at home improvement stores (Home Depot, Lowe´s, etc.). It´s also great for removing stubborn price tag and sticker adhesive.

Spring Cleaning

Play beat the clock with the microwave. Start by reheating your morning beverage, pull all the contents out of a predetermined cupboard. Take inventory. Take a break. Clean the shelf (or replace the shelfpaper) and replace the contents you want for every day use. Box the rest and give it a new home.

Getting Rid of Dust Mites

To get rid of dust mites, wash bedsheets weekly, blankets and mattress pads monthly, and pillows four times a year. (Wash pillows on the gentle cycle and remove several times while drying to fluff.)

Getting Kids to Help Clean Up

Be very specific about what you want your child to do. "Clean your room" is vague to most children as well as overwhelming. I usually gather all of the things that I want my son to put away on his bed so that he doesn´t miss anything. It also makes it easier for me to dust and vacuum because his toys are out of the way.

Non Toxic Floor Cleaner

To make your own enviromentally friendly and non toxic floor cleaner: Mix 1 cup white vinegar with 2 gallons hot water. For greasy floors, add 1/4 cup washing soda and 1 tablespoon vegetable-oil-based soap to the above mixture.

Cleaning a Mattress

Vacuum your mattresses every two weeks when you change the sheets. Flip a mattress while making the bed(s) at least once a year.

Clothes That Need to Be Ironed

When I moved into my house, I couldn´t figure out what the stainless steel bar at the top of the entrance to the laundry room was for. I still don´t know what the previous owner used it for, but it´s great for hanging up clothes that wrinkle easily when they come out of the dryer! I keep a small supply of hangers there and, as I take a blouse or skirt or some other easily wrinkled item out, I hang it up. This cuts down on my ironing and makes more room in the basket for the clean and folded clothes. Anyone can install this on a doorless entryway by using an adjustable length tension-mounted rod.

Crusty Microwave?

When food debris gets "cooked" onto the inside surfaces of your microwave, it can be difficult to clean. To make the job easier, boil a cup of water in your microwave and let it sit inside the oven steaming for 5-10 minutes. This will soften the debris, making it easy to wipe clean.

Removing Soap Scum

Remove soap scum quickly and easily with a laundry pre-wash stain treatment such as Spray ´n Wash. Just spray on and wipe off.

Enviromentally friendly cleaners

Five basic nontoxic ingredients that can be used as cleansing agents: These ingredients, supplemented with vegetable-oil- based soaps, lemon juice, herbs or toothpaste, can be mixed together and used to bring a natural, economical and safe shine to your home: baking soda, washing soda, borax, salt, and white vinegar.

Quick & Easy Wayto Reduce Clutter

If a clutter-reducing act takes 30 seconds or less, do it right away. You´ll see results immediately!

Everyone Chipping In Saves Time

Make everyone (who is big enough) responsible for picking up their own mess. For example, putting dishes in the sink or dishwasher, picking up toys, magazines, and newspapers, etc. are tasks that can easily become a family habit.

Preventing Dust Pile-Ups

Fabric softener sheets can eliminate static electricity from your television screen -- wipe your television screen with a used sheet keep dust from resettling. This also works on venetian blinds.

Rubber Glove Comfort

Sprinkle a little baking soda inside rubber gloves to make them easier to put on.

Spring Cleaning

Does it really matter if the entire spring cleaning list be done in a day? Only if your mother-in-law is coming for an extended visit- tomorrow. Make lists. Lots of lists. One for each adult in the family (baby-sitting age and up) One for each walking child. One for any help you may have - baby-sitter, cleaning lady, mother-in-law etc.

Spring Cleaning

Play beat the clock with the microwave. Start by reheating your morning beverage and see how many cupboard faces you can clean before you have to take that well deserved break.

Do Kids Need a Clean Room?

A clean room, but not perfect room encourages a child´s creativity. Allow children to work constructively in a neat environment.

Safer Sponges

Run your sponges through your dishwasher every few days, and dispose of them every few weeks. They breed bacteria because they do not get the opportunity to dry out in between uses.

Paint Protection

Hardware stores sell plastic sheeting by the roll. Use as furniture/floor cover when painting a room.