Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Secrets

No, nothing that juicy. Just a few things I do around the house that you might not.

First, if you do not have a Dirt Devil Kone, turn off the computer and go get one. If you have children, pets, humans living in your house, this is a lifesaver. I can't imagine cleaning out a high chair without it. Pricey at $45, but you'll use it over and over again.

Second, baby wipes. I keep a tub on hand and use them all day long to clean up just about anything in the house as it happens. Much less expensive than the "cleaning" wipes and they work just as well. Now, to actually clean, I use the ones with a disinfectant, but for every day, all day use, baby wipes it is. And, no, I still don't buy paper towels for those who already think that's one of my weirdest traits.

And, third....laundry. I do one load a day, every day. I wash everything in cold water - yes, colors and lights - saving sheets, towels and such for warm water once a week. Part of Carter's chores include gathering the laundry....the basket we transport it all in is housed in his closet...so he starts there and works his way through the house before going to school. I start it shortly after and have it done before noon. Occasionally, I'll veer off this routine and then get frustrated with the piles that await me, so once I catch up, I'm quickly back on it.

OK, your turn.

30 comments:

The Soladay Family said...

First of all....NO paper towels? I don't know what I would do without them!! I am interested in finding out more about how you handle all the spills....just baby wipes?

My newest household favorite is "Sprayway" stainless steel cleaner. I don't know what is in that stuff, but is the ONLY cleaner for s.s. I have found that actually works! It leaves the frig, micro
wave, oven, etc. looking brand spakin' new! We found it at World Market...They also carry an awesome granite and marble cleaner as well.

I really don't have any secrets, but as far as laundry, Ryan and I do it together every Sunday...and when I say together, I mean together...now, we have placed more responsibility on the boys having them bring their dirty clothes down...but he helps with every step from sorting, to folding, to putting up...Thank goodness because we have so much freaking laundry!

By the way...I want one of those cones!

Anonymous said...

great idea to post your "secrets!" I'm already thinking of what mine might be... I'll post an entry on my blog!

starnes family said...

Since I do laundry once a day, I use dish towels for spills and such...and baby wipes for the smaller stuff. I haven't bought paper towels in years. Not buying them saves money, space in your cabinets, and it's better for the environment.

I figure that might balance out my moral standing with the environment if you pair it with the enormous car I drive. :)

michelle matthews said...

Wow! Great tips! Thanks for sharing!

The Soladay Family said...

Casey...I am now feeling guilty for contributing to the demise of our environment! I do recycle my plastic grocery bags now...Don't tell me you take your own enviro-friendly bags with you to the store to use!

Coco said...

I'm sorry, I quite reading at "I don't buy paper towels" What the????

My tip to be more "green" is I keep all wash clothes and burp clothes and bibs under my sink with my cleaners. Instead of papertowels (which I DO purchase) I wipe stuff down with these instead.

No waste and the earth loves me.

Coco said...

And I cloth diapered Tessie Mayes for a year. Yep, sure did.

starnes family said...

Sure, Court. We believe you cloth diapered Tess.

But, yes, I do take my eco-friendly bags to buy groceries! No joke.....those things are not only good for the environment, but they are so convenient, too.

I have 3 and can fit just about any trip to the store in them. I also use them for camping, day trips....to hold extra gear or lunches, jackets, etc. Best $1.49 I ever spent. Try them and you won't go back - not just b/c they're "greener" but because they'll benefit you, too.

Also, when you're pushing a double stroller and have bags to get out to the car....these can go over my shoulder since I can't push a cart. Convenient!

Coco said...

Totally clothe diapered Tess. I will show you pictures. Loved it. I used Bumgenius. Shocking but true.
And I do use the eco friendly grocery bags as well. Case is right, they are great for everything.

See, us republicans aren't as irresponsible as they say!

The Jones Family said...

Does that mean you throw away the paper towels we buy when we stay with you :)

I recycle when I'm at Casey's... does that count?!

Love the s.s. cleaner too, it's one of my favs!

starnes family said...

You know what's funny? I was about to cook chicken the other day and needed to pat it dry....so I reached into our pantry and pulled out the roll you guys left from your last visit.

No kidding.

Malinda said...

The insulated grocery bags from HEB are the best! They hold a ton of stuff and have zippers on the top. I buy papers towels and paper plates, but we recycle everything including food boxes, glass, all plastic, and cans. We only have one trash bag per week for the trash collectors.

Just curious, but are baby wipes any better for the environment than paper towels?

I don't have any cleaning tips. I struggle to keep the house clean every week and keep up with Cason at the same time. By the time he goes to bed, I'm wiped out or I have freelance work to do so the cleaning sometimes has to wait. But before I had a child, my house sparkled!

starnes family said...

I was waiting for that! No, baby wipes are no better for the environment, but I use a ton less than the paper towels I used to go through.

And, most of the time I use dish towels...unless I need something moistened.

If the shoe FITZ said...

I am a paper towel whore.
I go to the grocery store once a week and there is NO WAY I could fit all my groceries in three bags. I have at least 6 bags each week. How is that? There are only two of us? I've been wanting to buy those bags...but haven't crossed over just yet.

donatelli98 said...

Casey - are you proving Republicans care about the environment too! Good Job! I have to agree with the last commenter, I am a paper towel whore too! Use them and baby wipes for everything and cleaning wipes too. Dish towels harbor too many germs in my mind! I do use the canvas bags for groceries (when I remember to take them with me to the store) - they are more convenient with being able to put over your shoulder and all!

Anonymous said...

You girls are very impressive. We haven't recycled a damn thing since one of our hippie neighbors stole our bin while we were outta town Christmas. No paper towels? WTF. And Case, I don't believe you can pack groceries for three kids in three of those hippie bags. No way, Jose. I don't have any tips for cleaning, except to share the number of the sweet cleaning lady who comes when I have a breakdown and the husband decides he'd rather lose the cash to her than hear me bitch one more minute about the mold he needs to remove from our shower.

merrilee said...

I am CRACKING up at all the comments. . . .especially the "paper towel whore"! Too funny!! Can't think of any secrets right now, but I do use the eco-friendly bags for shopping(most of the time), but I also use paper towels. Not all the time, just to "deep" clean the counters. I also use a TON of baby wipes. . . .especially to clean-up banana off the floor--why are babies so messy???

The Soladay Family said...

Here's my question...I usually send Ryan with a list to do the grocery shopping on the way home from the office, and there have been several times that he had to use 2 grocery carts at the same time, so how many "hippie bags"...as they were so eloquently termed...would it take for 2 carts full? I would pay money to see him with all of those bags!

starnes family said...

I think each hippie bag = about 3 plastic. So, maybe 8?

Shannon said...

Stimulate the economy, employ a housekeeper. And, I'm a fellow member of the Paper Towel Whore Club and buy 8 rolls at a time.

Anonymous said...

Not to change the subject, but I thought of my "can't live without it" item while I was using it to make dinner tonight. It's a Big George Forman Grill, I have a really big one (size does matter in this case!) and it is part George Forman and part Griddle. I use it almost every day. It cooks chicken breasts from frozen in about 5 minutes. As a working mom of three who hardly ever plans ahead for dinner, the George Forman is a life saver!

And, I do use paper towels, napkins, baby wipes, toilet paper, and clorox wipes constantly. I'm constantly wiping someting!!!

Malinda said...

I agree, I can fit 8 or 9 plastic shopping bags of groceries into just 3 reusable bags. Although I do have to admit that sometimes they weigh about 30 lbs. each.

If the shoe FITZ said...

I love how my whore comment turned into a club!

donatelli98 said...

Paper Towel Whore = Costco purchase and I tend to but them at least 1 a month if not two times! Honestly I get it from my mother and now I have passed it to my husband! But who's complaining - it means he cleans the bathroom! Gotta Love that!!

Anonymous said...

I have a kone too! LOVE IT!

I am a paper towel whore, lysol wipes whore, dish towel whore, etc.
I use them all! But when I am cleaning the house, I use dish rags. Not the same ones I use in the kitchen...I bought a huge bag of them and keep them in a pillow case and drag it around room to room when I am cleaning and then wash and reuse.

I also wash everything on cold...EVERYTHING!

One thing that I can not live without is tupperware. It is really a love/hate relationship because I guess Hagen has the same affection towards tupperware. I use it all day everyday. I collect things to put away in them, snacks, toys, weapons (ok just kidding...well, not really), etc. Love my tupperware. I get the Glad or Ziploc tupperware.

I have a black milk crate in the kitchen that we put things in to recycle. Cans, jars, etc. We take it to the recycle can outside once a day.

Anonymous said...

And by the way, even though Hagen is only 1 1/2, he has laundry duty too. Everynight after his bath and he gets into his PJ's, he has to put his dirty clothes in the hamper, shoes in the closet, and wet diaper in the Genie.

Then in the morning he puts his dirty PJ's in the hamper and his diaper in the Genie.

Now, if only I can get him to pick up those damn toys! Ugh! he just doesn't get it! Or, here's another one...let's work on keeping our crackers IN the tupperware bowl that you have to have! I did the snack trap thing and he will just shake the shit out of it and crackers go flying. I swear I sleep with cheerios everynight!!!

FROGGITY! said...

this banter cracks me up! i love paper towels and i also love my swiffer... i just love it. can't help it.

If the shoe FITZ said...

I love my Swiffer too. I buy those pads all the time.
If we are talking cleaning, I would like to marry my Dyson. Remember when you said you loved something and somebody else would respond "Why don't you marry it."

The Dyson is pure genious...that and Tivo.

Amanda said...

I got a Kone for Christmas '07 and I love it. We have 2 small dogs and they leave hair everywhere along with tracking in leaves from the yard with them almost everytime they go outside. Never thought about the baby wipe thing, but then again, never bought them either. Not a fan of the paper towel, I use kitchen towels too. I still have paper towels though.

Moni said...

Oh, gosh! ...we do laundry when we run out of clean clothes. I use dish towels as much as paper towels, and I love my Kone...it is more decorative than useful. I actually bought it because it was turquoise, not because I needed it. Not a fan of baby wipes because I hate the smell! Since it is just us and no kiddos, we barely grocery shop...so no need for the reusable baggies. Guess when, or if, we have kids, things will change!!!! I do mix in a little mineral oil with my makeup remover....gets every last trace of mascara off and makes the skin around your eyes really soft....does that count as a secret?