Thrifty Tip #3 Cleaning Wipes

Thrifty Tip #3

Make your own "Cleaning Wipes"

 

I have a confession.... I am a cleaner junkie! I love buying cleaners. Many women have shoe, clothing or handbag addictions. Not me! I love to buy cleaners and cleaning products. I currently own 3 vacuums, 4 different types of mops, 2 steamers and an endless supply of cleaning agents.

I guess I am on an endless hunt, searching for the latest and greatest product that will make my life easier. I just love the smell of cleaners.... except for plain bleach. That one makes me gag. There is just something in the smell of a good cleaner. I have cleaners for the bathroom, the kitchen, the floor, dusting, etc... No matter what store I am in I enjoy perusing the cleaning aisle!

There are many, many blogs, articles and more about making your own cleaners and the benefits of doing so. I have tried to make several different types of cleaners. I have been happy with some and disappointed with others. I have found that most homemade cleaners just don't clean as well or smell as good as I would prefer. I do realize that all those chemicals are not healthy for the family, and yet, I have trouble using a homemade product that just doesn't get the job done!

Being a pinterest junkie, I am constantly finding new cleaners to try or to make homemade. I came across this cleaning wipe recipe and have never looked back. If you want to read the original blog and why she chose to use these particular ingredients follow this link: Living on a Dime

For this recipe you will need:
old rags
an empty wipes container (store bought cleaning wipes or baby wipes work well)
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
2 TB Dawn dish soap (I have found that the original blue works best for cutting grease, however if you use one of the others you can choose a fragrance)
1 cup water
container for mixing (I have found a larger size liquid measuring cup works great and makes it easier to pour)

Fill up your empty wipes container with the old rags.... just stuff as many in there as you possibly can!
Then mix the rubbing alcohol, Dawn dish soap and water. Stir gently as you don't want to create too many bubbles. After the solution is mixed, pour over rags in your wipes container. Pour SLOWLY as it will take time for the solution to soak into the rags and you don't want it to overflow all over your counter! (Ask me how I know this....) Now put the wipes in your cleaning cupboard for when you need them!

That's it! Easy, right? And they are great for cleaning just about everything!!! We use them for wiping down the bathrooms, counters, sticky spills, wiping off door handles and light switches (a chore my kids do weekly) and so much more!!!

For the most part, these are reusable. We have a bucket just for the used rags and then I wash them in HOT water and make new ones. If the job is a really gross one, such as cleaning up poop, I make sure to use one of the holy socks that are in the container and we just throw it away when we are finished.

This cleaning wipes solutions is pennies to make and yet saves you from buying the real thing which can be as much as $9.00 per container. HUGE savings!

I hope you try these cleaning wipes and love them as much as I do! 

Getting to Know Me

 

 

Recently this came through on facebook so I thought... Alright... I'll play... And I thought I'd share with you too!

These were the instructions) You've been tagged! If you are reading this, you have the honor of copying all these questions, writing your own response, and tagging 25 other "victims". You have to tag me, too. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you as a friend. To do this, go to “Notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your title as "Getting to know each other!", tag 25 people including me (tagging is done by typing in the box below labelled 'Tags:') then click 'Publish'.



What time did you get up this morning?
4:30


How do you like your steak?

Medium



What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

Men In Black 3 - last year on my birthday



What is your favorite TV show?

Game of Thrones... for now



If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

Maui - where we got married



What did you have for breakfast?

A KIND bar - Almond and Apricot


What is your favorite cuisine?

Mexican.... Italian.... Chineses.... American... Can't choose I like them all!



Foods you dislike?
MUSHROOMS



Favorite place to Eat?

Home - I know what is in the food



Favorite dressing?

Thousand Island



What kind of vehicle do you drive?

GMC Sierra



What are your favorite clothes?

Jeans and a Tee


Where would you visit if you had the chance?

I would love to travel across the USA



Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?

Always half full



Where would you want to retire?

Maui


Favorite time of day?

First thing in the morning when no one else is up and the house is quiet!



Where were you born?

Stockton, CA - before it was bankrupt, lol



What is your favorite sport to watch?

Football



People watcher?
Absolutely!!



Are you a morning or night person?

Definitely a night owl!!!!!



Do you have any pets?

dog, cat, leopard gecko... the hamster died :0(



Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?

not really... hmmmm......



What did you want to be when you were little?

a mom


What is your best childhood memory?

Ummmmm.... hard to choose one I have so many happy memories



Are you a cat or dog person?

Cat


Are you married?

Yes... to an incredible man who treats me like I am the Queen (cuz he knows its the easiest way to get along! lol)



Always wear your seat belt?
Absolutely!!



Been in a car accident?

2 huge ones... both totaled the car... bad injuries (I was only driving in one and it wasn't my fault, the other guy ran a stop sign.)



Any pet peeves?

Oh man... people get on my nerves.. hahahaha
I think my biggest is other people's naughty children!



Favorite pizza toppings?

all meat combo - add black olives



Favorite flower?

Daffodils



Favorite ice cream?
Daquiri ice from Baskin Robins



Favorite fast food restaurant?

In N Out



How many times did you fail your driver's test?

zero



From whom did you get your last email?
The Old Schoolhouse (a homeschool publication)



Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?

The Travel Agency... or a scrapbook store if travel doesn't count!



Do anything spontaneous lately?

yup



Like your job?

My job is raising some incredible children to be of good character and faith in Christ



Like Broccoli?

Yum



What was your favorite vacation?

Honeymoon in Maui



Last person you went out to dinner with?

husband



What are you listening to right now?

my 2 year old playing with his cars


What is your favorite color?

Purple



How many tattoos do you have?
zero - just not for me



Coffee drinker?

Can you start my IV now?

Have you considered signing this petition?

Maybe you have heard this story already or maybe you haven't.

Maybe you agree or maybe you don't.

My fellow homeschooling families... it is of super importance that you consider signing this petition. Please take the time to follow the link and read about this German homeschooling family that the U.S. government is trying to deport.

There are many home schooling families that have not signed thinking it has nothing to do with them... but this could affect all of us. Please follow the link and consider signing. The easy to follow instructions are also on the link.

Help the Romeike Family


As of the time I am writing this blog, we need 12,700 more signatures with only 10 more days to go.

To those of you that have already signed, thank you!

Avoidance (AKA procrastination)

As of right now, I am doing everything possible to avoid cleaning the hall bathroom. I have found so many things to do around the house... none of them necessary. I have also read the kids extra stories, we did a science experiment that wasn't in the plans, checked my emails, posted on facebook, looked some things up on the internet, wrote in my blog, made a bigger lunch than normal... the list goes on and on. But in the back of my mind, my conscience keeps nagging at me, "Get that bathroom done already!"

My sister, her two boys and baby girl came and stayed with us last week. Let me tell you, with three boys, that bathroom is a mess! Moms, of boys, you know my pain. Pee dribbling down the side of the toilet or missing it altogether. Boys and bathrooms equal messy! Then after they left, we were all sick, and then so busy running around I never had time to get in there to clean it. Or maybe that was just more avoidance....

Can I blame this one on my Mom? My job growing up was to clean the bathrooms and now I completely detest it! Yes Mom, I know, I can't blame everything on you! Hee hee! Maybe it's because I am sort of a germ freak, so when I do clean the bathroom I always feel like I need a shower. I know... wack-o! At least I admit it!

I don't know why I procrastinate about certain things so much. Once they are done, I feel so accomplished... like a weight has been lifted. I spend more time avoiding the work than just getting it done and over with. Hmmmm.... sounds like something I tell my kids!

All right already...

I am off to clean the bathroom...



Unless something else distracts me along the way...


As a matter of fact, I think it's time to start dinner...

April Fool's Day

I am going to rant for a minute....

I can't stand April Fool's Day! Or as some call it, All Fool's Day. 

I don't like that people use it as an excuse to play mean tricks on other people! When I worked retail, customers thought it was okay to be mean just because it was April first (although some were mean no matter what day it was.) What one person considers a funny innocent joke, another might consider cruel or mean, so why joke with someone you don't know. When I worked, I would try to arrange for this day off... I don't like it that much. I want to stay home where no one can play their mean pranks on me.

I mean, don't get me wrong, I am not a stick in the mud. I can take a joke - even on me. However some people use today as an excuse to be mean and that is the part I don't like. Why would we want to be mean to another person and blame it on a date anyway. I just don't like it... I really don't! Okay, I am done ranting now. hee hee

Go to April Fools History for information on how this holiday began and how people celebrate it all over the world. You might learn a thing or two. For example, in England jokes are only played in the morning and in Portugal many people throw flour at their friends.

No matter how you celebrate this date on the calendar... whether you are a jokester or not, remember why it is important to NOT be caught as a fool. We must turn our eyes to the Lord seeking His wisdom in all things. "The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools." Proverbs 3:35

Happy April Fool's Day!