Spring Cleaning!

Hey!! I can hardly believe we are in the home stretch of February!!  Each year just seems to go by even faster than the last!  Even though we haven't really had much of a "winter" here this year, I'm definitely ready for Spring!!  Every year around this time, I start getting the urge to clean my house from top to bottom.  I think I've told you before that I am a messy, but organized person by nature.  I LOVE having things clean, but I struggle to keep up with it day to day!  I actually really ENJOY cleaning, and I really love to wake up in the morning to a clean house!!  I have switched over to pretty much only SHAKLEE cleaners, and I LOVE them!!  I just got a new kit in the mail, and I've been putting it to good use!!  It is SO cheap when you break down how many bottles of cleaner you get out of each concentrated bottle!  If you aren't familiar with Shaklee, it's an all natural, non toxic company that makes all kinds of cleaners, weight loss products, nutritional supplements, skin care, etc.  You pay a little more up front, but I PROMISE it works out cheaper!!  The Basic H cleaner is what I use for just about everything.

I got the cute spray bottles that Shaklee makes, so I have an all purpose cleaner, one for windows and mirrors, and a degreaser.  Each bottle has the mixing directions on the bottle so you don't have to keep up with a piece of paper telling you how to mix.  The windows and mirrors cleaner is 16oz of water with merely 2 drops of Basic H.  Seriously.  2 drops.  It lasts forever and cleans just as well or better than any windex or glass cleaner.  Windex is a few dollars for a bottle, this works out to be pennies.  I'll take it!

I love using my microfiber cloths!! The blue one is Shaklee's super absorbent microfiber cloth for windows and mirrors, and the other ones are some cute cloths from Publix!

Here is the Scour Off paste I use to scrub all the stuff that really needs a good scrubbin!  This stuff is tough and gets the job done!! The best part is that it's safe to use with your kiddos in the room because it smells like cherries!!

Last year, I typed up a Spring Cleaning list and went room by room, listing all the things I wanted to clean.  It's a 5 page list, but I'm excited to get it done!! Today I focused just on the den, and started by dusting it from the ceiling to the floor.  I have a long duster I use to reach way up high.  I got all the light fixtures and the door and window trim too.

Start at the top and work your way down so you don't get dust on something you've already cleaned!  Have you ever used a swiffer on your walls??

 It's amazing the amount of dust just hanging out on the walls!!  My mom showed me hers and it made me HAVE to dust all my walls.  Don't try to do the whole house at once, just do a room a day.  I promise you'll be disgusted! Haha!  I just started today, so I'm getting a head start on "spring" cleaning this year.  I really want to knock it out and then be able to enjoy my summer knowing my house is clean and clutter free!  I am going to have my first yard sale this spring as well, so I'm working on purging every single room, drawer, cabinet, and closet in my house!  It's quite an undertaking!!  Who will be joining me in spring cleaning?!

For the last couple weeks, I've been telling you that BIG and exciting things may be coming!!  I am VERY excited to say that Ben and I have decided to go ahead and get a new roof!  We need one BADLY!  This wouldn't be a huge deal, except for the fact that with this house, we have learned a project will never be simple or quick.  In our case, getting a new roof also means we need to address the situation at the top of our staircase.  Right now, Ben cannot stand up straight when he gets to the top of the stairs because the ceiling is so low.  There is a large landing about 4 feet deep right now, and we need to add a dormer so we have enough room for people to stand and move around safely!  We don't want to reroof the entire house and then go back later and rip off a bunch of the new roof to put the dormer in.  It makes much more sense to do it all at once.  So, we've been in the process of getting some quotes and talking to my dad about how to go about getting these things done, without breaking the bank so that we end up living on the streets.  :)  I hope you'll stick around in the next few weeks!  It's getting ready to get fun!  By the way, Shaklee did not pay me to say I love their products!  (Although I really wish they would...)  :)