Let's Talk Housework

Whooooo-hoooooo! No housework for us!

The Rose Bowl is the only bowl I've ever seen that I didn't have to clean.
~Erma Bombeck

The trouble with living alone is that it's always your turn to do the dishes.

We labor to make a house a home, then every time we're expecting visitors, we rush to turn it back into a house.
~Robert Brault

Vacuums don't clean houses. People clean houses.
~Everybody Loves Raymond Episode

Freshen That Frigidaire!

DIY Fresh Solutions from J&J!

Here are some sassy new tips for deodorizing the ole Frigidaire in minutes!

*An open box of baking soda,and yes...Mom was right about that!
*A small muslin/cloth bag small baby sock or open container filled with fresh coffee grounds
*Set up an open container of charcoal briquettes in there.
* An open dish with 1/2 cup baking soda and 2 TBS vanilla extract or 2 TBS lemon juice. Mix it all together...sniff-OOoooOOOo! Fresh!
*A dab or two of vanilla extract on a cotton ball and set it in a hidden spot.

Get a Complimentary Hotel Stay From J&J!

Oh No! Summer's nearly over and we haven't had a decent vacation! Okay....we did, but we are in dire need of another one! Fret not, Domestics, you can have a complimentary hotel stay from us at J&J! That's right, unravel those nerves in Hawaii, Mexico, Lake Tahoe...there's more places of course but we are packing as we speak....
Like to know more? Of course, darlings, just call 707-399-6990 at our hotline.

Get Rid Of Stains With Toothpaste!

Did little Emmie Lou get into the permanent markers, again? Don't panic, Domestics! Toothpaste (not the gel stuff) is your answer! It works on painted walls, wood, even porcelain! Simply rub it into the stain and let it set for a few minutes. Then wipe it clean with a soapy damp cloth!

A Side Note: Be cautious of the abrasive types of toothpastes. The buffing could do damage to precious your pieces!

Add Some Muscle to Your Laundry!

Gent sweat, ladies glisten! Cleaning can be quite a work out! Did you know popping a few aspirin in your wash cycle can remove yellow perspiration stains? Simply buy a bottle from the Dollar Shop near you and keep it in your laundry room. Oh...works great on headaches, too!

Makes me wanna SHOUT! Get spots out of your carpet, asap!

I was practicing my walk in my new practical stilettos when I saw it! NO! A flaw! A nasty little stain on my carpet that called for quick thinking!
Here are some quick thinking tips that will pop that stain right out!

5 tips that get spots out of your carpet:


Try SHOUT laundry and stain remover with a cloth or old tooth brush...works in a jiffy!


Spot clean the stain with club soda. Then have a glass yourself and relax!


Dab with a baby wipe or WET ONES for mild stains.


Use a cap full of vinegar and blot with with a clean cloth.

Oopsie! Dropped the nail polish on that new shag? Nail polish remover works fine to get polish stains out of the carpet.

Hope for your hopelessly stained bathtub!

Thinking about refinishing your porcelain bathtub because of the stains? Well save your cash, people! We found a way to get those white tubs sparking white!

How to clean a stained bathtub:
Materials: Easy Off Oven Cleaner, yes! Easy Off!
Getting it Ready: Make sure you ventilate the bathroom by opening the windows! The strong smell of the cleaner can be a bit overwhelming!
Make sure you have at least 2 hours time to let the product sit on the bathtub.
The Process: Spray Easy Off generously on your bathtub and let it set a few hours before thoroughly rinsing it off. You will see the product working almost immediately.

Recommendations: We don't recommend this product for brass finishes. It will definitely discolor them! If you have an acrylic or plastic tub try soaking it in hot detergent water for a few hours-it works fabulous!
This product is should be tested on a small area of colored porcelain, you just want to be sure it doesn't effect that gorgeous color!

Make Your Own Homemade Baby Wipees

Okay, after years and years of cleaning the fastest most efficient way possible we have noticed busy moms, dads and happy pappy people on the go are using wipes more and more. These are not exactly a cloud on our wallets but since we love clean we make the financial sacrifice.
Well sacrifice no more! We found a way to make your own baby wipes or those unexpected sticky, messy situations!

How to make your own baby wipes:
Materials Needed: Paper towels (Viva works the best),  A round plastic container with a seal-able lid,  a sharp serrated knife,  cups of boiled water, 2TSPS of baby shampoo or baby wash (smells divine, doesn't it?), 1 TSP baby oil.
The Procedure: Cut paper towels in half with your knife and remove the cardboard tubing. After the boiled water is room temp. mix all your liquid ingredients and place in the plastic container. Now sit the paper towels in the solution and let is set for ten minutes....then place the lid on and flip it to set for another ten minutes. Hum-dee-dum-dee-dum....
Voila!: Sit it right side up and be sure to pull from the center of the roll to get your wipees. Always keep it sealed tightly to prevent dry out. Just save the next roll for next time you make a new batch!


Now you have your own homemade baby wipes! Keep some in the car or in the diaper bag!
Golly gee! What will we buy first with all the money we saved!

Say It With Salt!

 Opsie! Spilled on the carpet again...Don't fret, simply get some regular table salt and pour it on the spill. The salt will automatically absorb all the liquid without you ever having to scrub or buff! Leave the salt there for at least 24 hours to dry. Then vacuum it up. Voila! Not a stain in sight!

 

Pumice Your Way to Clean!

Pumice is a natural non-abrasive stone we often use to smooth and soften our tootsies. But did you know that it's scrubbing power can be used for more than just foot care? That's right! It can be used for scrubbing stubborn stains in the kitchen as well as the bathroom! Pumice won't scratch delicate porcelain or metal! Buff out stubborn stains in the oven or porcelain finishes for a sparkling clean presentation anytime!

 

Broom Power

 Scrubbing on your hands and knees? You don't have to! Get tile grout extra clean with some soft scrub and the power of your own broom! Simply apply a bit of soft scrub to the grout areas and buff with a stiff bristle broom! Save your back and all that extra money on mini brushes!

 

Seeing is Believing

 

"Grumble-Grumble-Cough!"

Cough, Cough, Ack!
That is the sound we often make when we vacuum! I know, I know, your thinking...."But golly, these are the sacrifices I must make when I clean.
Did you know at J &J we actually purify the air while we vacuum? Because of the "Go Green" vacuum we use we purify, freshen, and get out dust and grim right from the carpet pad. How....the power of pure water! Ta-Da! You can call us for a free demonstration because seeing is believing!

(707) 315-2917 (Here's our tele!)

Read Your Labels, Ladies and Gents!

Label? What Label?

 Did you know that using the wrong products on your furniture and appliances can actually be doing harm to them? Read all your instructions on your labels to keep your floors to keep chrome and marble surfaces looking like new!

Clean Your Wood Floors Without Chemicals

Dingy wood floors got you down? No need to splurge on expensive treatments! Save money with green cleaning tips!

Wood Floors
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 gallon warm water

Stir solution and start mopping!

Scrub With Baking Soda

Baking soda is a happy home's BLING!

Out of cleanser and don't have time to dash to the store? Simply make a paste with baking soda and water and scrub away! It cleans and deodorizes! Bye-bye stubborn stains!

Save On Cleaning Your Couches

Upholstery Spot Remover:
Nooooo-oo! Not the couch! Yes, the couch....
Don't fret over unwanted spots and stains, simply spray a little shaving cream in the area and rub with a clean moist sponge!

 

Go Green Cleaning With Vinagar

Keep the bathroom fresh!

 For Drains:
Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down drain, followed by 1 cup of vinegar. When the fizzing stops pour down a kettleful of boiling water.

 Make Your Own Tub Scrub:
1/2 cup of baking soda
a little bit of water and lemon juice

A Sparkling Toilet Bowl:
Baking soda
White vinegar

These concoctions are best used immediately. Baking soda  combined with vinegar has a powerful fizzing effect!

Make Your Own Mold Cleanser

EEEKK! Mold!

Mold Cleanser:
1 part hydrogen peroxide
2 parts water

Mix in a spray bottle. Spray on surface and leave to dry for one hour. Rinse the area off with water. Voila!

Save Money and Make Your Own All Purpose Cleaner

DIY means saving money, people!

All Purpose Cleaner:
1 cup white vinegar
1 cup water

Mix in a sprayer bottle and it's ready to use!

Make Your Own Furniture Polish

 Furniture Polish
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 teaspoon olive oil

Tired of paying to much for furniture polish? Simply mix in a jar and apply with a clean rag to dust and polish. Reduce the olive oil if wood looks too oily.
You can also swap the vinegar for lemon juice, mixing equal parts lemon juice and olive oil. Fabulous!

Make Your Own Glass Cleaner

 Glass Cleaner
1/4 cup vinegar or 1 Tbsp lemon juice
2+ cups water

Fill a clean spray bottle with water and either white vinegar or lemon juice. After spraying on glass, wipe with a coffee filters or old newspaper. They leave no lint residue and are virtually streak free!