Tag: "cleaning"

How My Two Little Brothers Got Me Into Trouble With The Police

bank vault door

LB2 and LB3 are quite a bit younger than me. Back when they were infants I took them everywhere with me, including work. I had a part time job cleaning two banks a couple of evenings a week. The pay was decent, which was important since I’d just bought a new Mustang convertible. The job wasn’t hard. Everything was provided for me including all janitorial cleaning supplies.

One night I had both of the boys with me. Since we were locked in I didn’t worry much about the boys, they had a couple of toys and could amuse themselves playing on the carpet. Or so I thought. As I moved between areas of the large lobby cleaning LB2 made a remark about men at the door. Being a bank with an ATM, I didn’t think much of it. Then I looked up. What did I see? About a half dozen police officers in front of the main entrance, guns drawn. I couldn’t imagine what they wanted and they certainly didn’t look like they were making a delivery for the industrial cleaning supply company.

I went to the door where I was ordered to open the door and surrender. WTH? I was authorized to be in the bank. It wasn’t like I had access to the bank vault or money - the greenest thing I had access to was a couple of green cleaning supplies. After opening the door and being frisked and questioned we figured out what had happened. One of the boys had pressed the silent alarm button under the teller counter. Everything was straightened out and all ended well. I never brought the boys with me to clean the bank again.

Jan 18, 2010 | 1 comment | View Post

Swiffer Goes Pink To Give Hope For Breast Cancer Awareness

Most of you probably know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. With the current statistic of one in eight women being diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime it’s more important than ever that women are aware of how important early detection is. It’s recommended that women perform a self exam on the breasts once a month and get an annual mammogram once a year after turning 35.

Procter & Gamble has teamed up with the National Breast Cancer Foundation to launch Give Hope. Give Hope is a program designed to encourage early breast cancer detection and to raise funds and awareness for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). The NBCF is a national organization with the goal of education the public on breast cancer and helping provide mammograms for those in need. Women are encouraged to visit www.mypinkplan.com to set up a personal plan for themselves, including reminders for self-exams, clinical exams and mammograms. My Pink Plan is a collaborative effort between Proctor and Gamble and NBCF.

Earlier this month there was a brandSAVER insert in the newspaper containing coupons on many Proctor and Gamble products including Swiffer, Tide, Downy and Bounce. For each coupon redeemed from this insert a 2 cent donation will be made to National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (NBCF). A number of the products will be available in a limited edition pink color for Breast Cancer Awareness month. Swiffer is one of these products.

As part of the Give Hope program, for the first time ever the Swiffer brand has gone pink and is offering limited edition dusters and sweepers.

From the website - Regular dry cloths and feather dusters can let dust fly. But Swiffer Dusters 360°, Swiffer Dusters, and Swiffer Dusters Extendable use fluffy fibers to trap and lock dust and allergens (from cats, dogs, and dustmites) in deep corners and crevices, leaving you with nothing but a deep clean.

We received a Swiffer Duster Starter Kit for this review. I’d never used a Swiffer Duster before so I was curious how it worked. The Starter Kit came with one handle and five dusters. The duster is easy to use. Just slide the two prongs of the “fork” into the pockets in the Swiffer dust cloth and you’re ready to go.

swiffer pink duster assembled

The ergonomic handle is fairly comfortable to hold. I was very pleased with how well the Swiffer Duster worked. I used it on the ceiling fan and light, the television, the stereo and some picture frames. It was soft and gentle enough that I wasn’t afraid it would break anything. It grabbed a LOT of dust and the final results were quite noticeable.

The Swiffer site offers product information, cleaning tips and product coupons.

The product(s) featured in this review were provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of product testing. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.

WIN IT!

One winner will receive a Swiffer Limited Edition Pink duster.

HOW TO ENTER. (MANDATORY)

To enter visit My Pink Plan and then return here and leave a comment on this post containing one thing that you learned on the site and if you created a personalized plan for yourself.

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Leave an additional comment for each entry you qualify for. You must have completed the first entry according to the instructions to be eligible for any bonus entries.

THE SMALL PRINT.

US addresses only please. No PO Boxes. This contest will end on Friday 10/23/09 at 11:59 pm est. If you’ve entered any of my giveaways before then you know that only comments containing all of the requested information will be eligible for entry. The winner must contact me to confirm they wish to receive the prize within two days of my email notifying them they’ve won. Good luck to everyone!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Oct 12, 2009 | 70 comments | View Post

X-14 Deep Clean Mold & Mildew Stain Remover review

I don’t like to clean. The thing I dislike cleaning the most is the bathtub and shower. It always amazes me that a place for getting clean can get so dirty and gross. What I really dislike about cleaning them is that they’re so hard to clean. Ours is tiled so it’s full of grout lines and has four corners that I can’t get into to scrub, all of which seem to mold rather quickly, Probably because the room has zero ventilation - no window and no ceiling fan. Probably doesn’t help that I don’t scrub it regularly either I think.And it has four corners that I cannot easily get into to scrub. So yeah, sometimes I just don’t do it.

I received a bottle of X-14 Deep Clean Mold & Mildew Stain Remover to review. X-14 requires no scrubbing and is safe to use on sealed grout, tile, vinyl and plastic surfaces. Fortunately for me, the bottle came right before Easter. Well, that makes my guests fortunate as well doesn’t it. Our tub is porcelain and the walls are a vinyl insert. There was an odor in the bathroom (no not that kind of odor, a cleaning product odor) but there always is when I clean it because there’s no ventilation. I sprayed the X-14 over everything and went to take care of some laundry. When I returned ten minutes later you could actually see where dirt had run down the walls into the bottom of the tub. It was nasty. The grout lines no longer looked beige or gray, they looked much closer to their original white color. I did treat the bottom corners where the walls meet a second time because they were really gross. Then I rinsed everything and that was the end of that. No scrubbing at all. I sprayed. It worked. I rinsed. End of story.

X-14 also makes Bathroom Cleaner, Foaming Bathroom Cleaner, Daily Shower Cleaner, Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner With Bleach and Automatic Toilet Bowl Cleaner In Blue With Fragrance. X-14 products are available for purchase online and in stores.

Thanks to Mom Central for this review opportunity!

Apr 16, 2009 | 0 comments | View Post

iRobot Roomba Pet Series Vacuum Cleaning Robot Review series - Robby On Pet Hair

This video is under 2 minutes (1:17) and gives an up close look at Robby (the iRobot Roomba Pet Series Vacuum Cleaning Robot I’m reviewing) and how he handles weeks of cat hair on the dining room rug.

WPvideo 1.10

Next up we let tackle lots of dirt and cat hair in CJ’s room.

Remember to to check out the new iRobot iTube channel!

Apr 13, 2009 | 3 comments | View Post

iRobot Roomba Pet Series Vacuum Cleaning Robot Review series - A Closer Look At Robby and What’s In The Box

This video is under 3 minutes (2:45) and gives an up close look at Robby (the iRobot Roomba Pet Series Vacuum Cleaning Robot I’m reviewing) and what comes in the box.

WPvideo 1.10

Next up we let Robby tackle lots of cat hair in the dining room.

Remember to to check out the new iRobot iTube channel!

Apr 12, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post

iRobot Roomba Vacuum Cleaning Robot Pet review series - Meet Robby

We’re hard on our floors. We have 2 long haired cats (Himalayans) and CJ is very messy. We HAVE to vacuum every two days or so at least, more frequently if the cats are shedding. I do not like vacuuming. Since I started having back problems I’ve done it less often than I should because the standing and shifting causes me pain. With surgery scheduled next week I also won’t be allowed to lift anything or be pushing a vacuum around at first. That’s why I was totally thrilled to be offered a chance to review the iRobot Roomba Vacuum Cleaning Robot Pet Series.

From the iRobot website:
Tired of getting tangled up in hairy situations? These Roomba Vacuum Cleaning Robots will help you tackle pet hair tumbleweeds and more.

Picks up an amazing amount of pet hair, pet dander, kitty litter and debris
Tangle-resistant brushes and hair-removing cleaning tools
2 Debris Bins: High-capacity Sweeper Bin and Vacuuming Bin
Extra brushes, filters and cleaning tool

This is how the Vacuum arrived from FedEx.

The iRobot Roomba Pet comes packed securely in foam.

See, everything’s individually wrapped. A place for everything and everything in its place.

I asked RB to help me take it out of the box. I figured it was going to need some assembly or something, like our current and previous vacuums.

Turns out it doesn’t really need any assembly. But it did need a name.

Meet Robby.

As you can see, the iRobot isn’t all that big. That’s my hand on top of it, to show you the scale.

This is me holding it in my hand from a side view, so you can see the height.

It’s recommended the unit charge overnight for the first use so we put Robby to bed in the corner of the living room.

Tomorrow I’ll continue my review. I’ll get into what comes with it and what the major features are. I’m thinking I’m going to even include video so please come on by and count how many times I say “ummm” check it out.

Until then, feel free to check out the new iRobot iTube channel to see videos and get a behind the scenes look at iRobot.

Apr 08, 2009 | 2 comments | View Post

Spring declutter underway

I started my straightening project yesterday. Spring cleaning if you will. I promised myself I’ll do at least a half of an hour a day organizing around the house. I have many things that need to put away and just as many things that need to be gotten rid of in one way or another.

I started in the laundry room yesterday. My laundry room is very small. I put 2 loads of laundry away and did 4 more. I got rid of some old Christmas tree stands, a small dehumidifier from when TJ was an infant, two tattered garden flags and some really worn holiday decorations. I’m going to freecycle the old intercom and an old vacuum.

Today I’ll work in the dining room.

Are you doing any spring cleaning?

Mar 15, 2009 | 1 comment | View Post

Clorox Natural Cleaning Wipes review

I am not as “green” as I could be in the kitchen. For years I’ve used paper towels to clean the counters and other surfaces in there. Paper towels are disposable and that’s what makes them attractive to me. My husband tries to keep a dish towel in there instead but I really can’t stand the idea of a damp, dirty, potentially stinky towel always being in the room. I am happy to say that I can now be a little greener without giving up the convenience of something disposable and without having a nasty towel in the room.

The Green Works product family recently introduced it’s latest member - Natural Biodegradable Cleaning Wipes. The 99% natural wipes are biodegradable and are not tested on animals. They will work on most non-wood surfaces including acrylic, fiberglass and vinyl. The wipes will bear the Sierra Club logo, marking the brand’s financial commitment to support the organization’s conservation efforts, and are recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for using environmentally preferred chemistry.

I love them. What’s not to love! They smelled good. They’re disposable. They cleaned well, which I expected since Green Works is a Clorox line of products. They’re disposable. They’re biodegradable so they’re environmentally friendly. They store away nicely in their recyclable container. They’re disposable. They’re made with natural products and didn’t hurt the skin on my hands. Did I mention they’re disposable? The wipes weren’t sticky or soapy like some wipes are either.

The new Green Works Natural Biodegradable Cleaning Wipesare available for purchase in all major stores where cleaning products are sold including grocery stores and retail stores like Kmart, Walmart and Target.

Thanks to Mom Central for this review opportunity!

Feb 06, 2009 | 0 comments | View Post

Clorox taking aim at people with allergies

Did you ever think you could use Clorox anywhere? I didn’t used to think so because I remember when all they were known for was bleach. Clorox makes all sorts of terrific products now and they’ve just come up with another one, Clorox Anywhere Anti-Allergen Fabric Spray.

From the website: “This gentle and effective formula helps neutralize up to 90 percent of common indoor allergens (dust mite matter, cat dander and dog dander) that can hide in upholstery and fabrics throughout the house. The formula works by changing the structure of allergen proteins, rendering them inactive. The fragrance-free, dye-free spray is safe on virtually all fabrics and gentle enough to use around kids and pets.”

Hubby has some minor seasonal issues but nothing like some of the problems many people have. One of my brothers is allergic to many things and had to go for scratch testing when he was a child. I felt so bad for him, getting all that stuff pricked into his skin. My parents even ripped all of the carpet out of the house at one point. I have many friends with allergies. A couple of my friends are very allergic to cats, which I have two of. Another friend, one of my coworkers, has reactions to most things with scents.

Thanks to Mom Central I received a bottle of Clorox Anywhere Anti-Allergen Fabric Spray. I tried spraying the living room with it this past week. The product seemed to have no scent. After three days of this a friend with a cat allergy was brave enough to come over and seemed to have no reaction after being there for an hour. I’ve always had thought that allergens carried odor. I mean, how could they not since they come from animals and dust? Who wouldn’t want to break up allergens to help prevent odor in their house. I’ve also read and been told by two doctors that allergies can change and develop over time. Wouldn’t it just be good sense to spritz this product each time the house is cleaned for everyone’s benefit?

Clorox Anywhere Anti-Allergen Fabric Spray will be sold in retail stores nationwide and will be priced at approximately $2.99.

Oct 21, 2008 | 0 comments | View Post

Dad’s day of domesticity - day 2 at home

I had to go to the airport late last night so I didn’t have an opportunity to write about this. When I came home yesterday I found hubby had been busy once again. It seems he’s even created a list of things to do for himself. He’d run the dishwasher again and made all of the beds again. He cleaned through a part of a cabinet in the dining room where junk had been accumulating. He put away all of his and the boys laundry on the dining room table, which was about three loads. (This left the two cats without their favorite pet beds.) He folded all of my laundry, which was probably another three loads, and placed it on my side of the bed so all I had to do was put it away. And he kept an eye on the kids while I powernapped before leaving for the airport. His mood is still really good. I remain impressed.

Aug 30, 2008 | 2 comments | View Post

Green Works Dishwashing Liquid review

Recently more and more attention has been given to the importance of being eco friendly. Every day I hear or read about more people trying to go green and use as many natural products as possible. Clorox has introduced the line of Green Works products in order to help families be more environmentally responsible and to have a positive impact on our environment. The EPA has recognized Green Works dishwashing liquid for using environmentally preferred chemistry and has authorized use of their logo on the bottle. The Sierra Club, the largest environmental organization in the US, is supporting this product and allowing the use of its logo on the bottle as well. Green Works packaging is recyclable and products are not tested on animals.

Many of us are familiar with Clorox products, whether it be bleach, wipes or one of their other cleansers. I’ve always found Clorox products to be tough on dirt and grease, and Green Works dishwashing liquid was no different. Where Green Works is different is that it is made from plant based ingredients and essential oils instead of chemicals. Thanks to MomCentral I received a bottle of original Green Works dishwashing liquid to try. I have been using it for a little over a week now. The majority of our dishes are washed in the dishwasher, except for pots and pans and really greasy, dirty dishes which I wash by hand. I was surprised, and pleased, to find that it worked just as well or better than not-green big brands that I have used in the past. The soap didn’t lose it bubbles and go flat and stop cleaning like I’ve had a couple of soaps do in the past. The smell is very pleasant.

Clorox Green Works dishwashing liquid is available in five scents – original, water lily, tangerine, simply lemon and free & clear. It is safe to use on many cooking and eating surfaces including plastic, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, glass and porcelain. It’s available for purchase in grocery stores and discount department stores such as Target and Walmart, or anywhere else Clorox products are sold. The regular retail price should be between $2.99 and $3.29.

Aug 24, 2008 | 0 comments | View Post