This post is sponsored by Wagner. All opinions and ideas are 100% my own. This post contains an affiliate link.

How To Steam Clean A Couch

Upholstery harbors odors. Well, at least at my house with 4 boys and a dog it does! It also harbors all sorts of other things I'd like to not think about (like dust mites!). It is probably a good idea to sanitize your fabric couch every now and then. Or if you have been thrifting and found a great couch for your space, giving it the once over with a steam machine is probably a smart idea. I used the Wagner 915e steam cleaner.

Vacuum

If your couch has upholstery, the first thing you need to do is use a vacuum cleaner and thoroughly vacuum the entire couch. This removes any pet hair or loose dirt. If your couch has a strong odor, you can sprinkle baking soda on it and let it sit overnight. The baking soda absorbs most of the smell and it can then be vacuumed away. I have done this with my area rugs as well.

Check Fabric Type

Not all couches can be steam cleaned. Real leather couches should be cleaned another way and some delicate fabrics should also avoid being steamed. If you are not sure what type of fabric it is, or if your couch can be safely steamed, check the label. The care instructions should have a code indicating the type of cleaner that can be used. S for solvent, W for water, and an X means you can not safely use water.

If you are unsure or if the tag is no longer on the couch, test a small area on the back or somewhere hidden before doing the entire couch. If there is any damage or color fading, you will have to clean your couch another way. I am showing an example of an upholstered couch, but I have also successfully cleaned faux leather and vinyl couches with a steamer. I even steam cleaned my velvet bench many times.

Treat Stains and Spills First

Fill your steam machine with clean water according to the instructions. Wait for it to heat up. If you have any stains or spills, use the soft bristle brush attachment on the steamer to gently clean it off. The hot vapors will help loosen what is stuck. I move the stationary brush in a circular motion. Have a clean cloth handy to wipe away the mess. Stubborn stains may need to be addressed after the steaming process with cleaning solution or an upholstery cleaner for best results.

Steam Your Couch Clean!

I add the attachment with the cloth over it. It is what I use to steam my clothes or curtains. Start with the backs and couch cushions as they can be removed. Work in small sections at a time. Once the whole cushion is steam cleaned, check the pad and see if it needs to be replaced. If you don't have multiple cloth covers, you can use clean socks. I buy the little bootie socks to use as extra covers. Put a new cover over the steamer attachment as needed and move on to the next section of couch.

It really doesn't take that much time to do, and because of using a steam cleaning machine, not much water was used so the drying process will be quick as well. I love that I can avoid using harsh chemicals by using high-temperature steam instead. Once you are done, unplug the steam machine and allow it to cool before emptying any left over water.

Check out my post on 40 Ways to Use Your Steam Cleaner for more ideas on what to clean in your home!

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The whole cleaning process is fairly easy and you will be rewarded with a clean couch! I love to steam my chairs and pillows as well while I have the steam cleaner out. It is a great way to freshen up your home.

This post is sponsored by HomeRight, but all opinions and ideas are 100% my own. This post contains an affiliate link.

The Best Way To Clean A Fireplace

#1 -Vacuum

I used my shop vac to clean out all of the ashes. I also went over the bricks to get as much loose soot as possible. The more you can vacuum out, the less scrubbing you'll have to do and the less rags you will go through.

#2-Steam

I love using my SteamMachine Elite to deep clean. Using a steamer is the best way to clean a fireplace! I used a plastic brush attachment at first. Most of the soot was easily steamed off. It literally ran down as I was steaming.

I went over the stone with the plastic brush and then used the wire brush to get the deeper stains. Be careful not to scrub too hard with the wire brush so that it doesn't damage the stone or brick.

The best way to clean a fireplace!

#3-Wipe

Make sure you have plenty of rags handy. I grabbed a stack of my shop rags so that I could wipe the soot as it ran down. Most of the rags were used for the inside. It was so black! In fact, I went straight for the wire brush.

Now it is all clean and ready for the next fire!

GIVEAWAY!

HomeRight is offering one lucky reader a SteamMachine Elite! Enter to win using the widget below :)

SteamMachine Elite

You must be at least 18 years old to enter. You must be a resident of the USA to enter. The giveaway will go from January 19, 2021 until January 26, 2021. A winner will be chosen by random.org and will be notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be chosen. The shipping of the prize is the responsibility of the company, in this case, HomeRight.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more ideas on how you can use your SteamMachine, I wrote a post with all the things I use mine for!

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This post is sponsored by Ryobi Outdoor but all ideas and opinions are 100% mine.

How to Keep Pea Gravel Clean & Tidy

Before adding pea gravel to my landscaping, I didn't even think about the fact that I would have to keep it clean. I didn't think about the pine needles, leaves, and seed pods that would fall and make a mess. So I was grateful that the solution was so simple! A leaf blower! I reached out to Ryobi because I knew they had a powerful, yet quiet blower that would do the job easily without cords to deal with.

You GUYS!!! It took mere MINUTES to clean up the whole space.

Check out my Instagram feed and my stories under "Yard" for a video of the fast process!

I have been considering adding another landscaping project that uses pea gravel but this spring when I saw it all messy, I was having second thoughts. Now I am excited to move forward next year with another pea gravel project because I know how to keep the pea gravel clean!

It is surprisingly light weight and runs on the same batteries as all my other outdoor tools like the mower, trimmer, edger, and cultivator. You can find the blowers as well as the other tool at The Home Depot.

The Brushless Jet Fan Blower is partof Ryobi's Whisper series. I cleaned up the secret garden at 7 am while my kiddos slept in the room next to it and they never heard it at all.

GIVEAWAY!

Ryobi has offered to give away one Brushless Jet Fan Blower! Enter below using the Rafflecopter widget. Email me if you have any issues and I'll be happy to help :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You must be at least 18 years old to enter. You must be a resident of the USA to enter. The giveaway will go from July 6, 2020 until July 13, 2020.  The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be chosen. The shipping of the prize is the responsibility of the company, in this case Ryobi.

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I love spring! Spring is a time of renewal. I like to take some time to deep clean and freshen up my house before all my attention gets turned to outdoor projects. Spring cleaning isn't just about wiping away the dust, but it also about odor control. Since I live with 5 guys and a dog, I know a thing or two about odor! I will squirt, scrub, burn, diffuse, and spray whatever I need to keep my house from smelling like feet. My favorite thing to use is Febreze! It makes my house smell like fresh laundry and who doesn't love fresh laundry? So let's chat about freshening up your home when you have pets.

Febreze has a new line just for your pets. So whether you already have a furry friend, or are thinking about getting one, you don't have to let odor get in the way of loving your current or future pet.

I love our Frenchie Kevin, but he sure gives my boys a run for their money in the odor department. He is cute but he sure is a gassy little thing. Nothing a little spritz of Febreze AIR Heavy Duty Pet Odor Eliminator can't handle!

Why do dog beds always smell like corn chips? Ugh. No need to worry though, Febreze FABRIC Pet Odor Eliminator takes care of that.

Speaking of corn chips, Febreze could have also put a teenage boy on the label and it would have sold like hot cakes.

These new Febreze products are perfect for eliminating pet odors found on or near litter boxes, pet beds, dog food, pet messes, and their favorite chair.

Pro mom tip: This works great in the minivan too!

You can find this new line at grocery, retail, and mass merchandise stores nationwide including Walmart.

I'd love to hear about your furry friends and how you #dontsweatyourpet while freshening up your house! Comment below :)

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Steam Cleaning the Kitchen

The kitchen is full of little nooks and crannies and hard surfaces that get real dirty. It is also where we store and prepare our food so it is important that it stays clean and sanitized. From the dishwasher to the wrinkled tablecloth, there are lots of places to use the steamer in the kitchen!

*Oven & Stove

*Lazy Susans & Cabinets

*Silverware trays & drawers

*Cabinet doors

*Fridge

*Microwave

*Dishwasher

*Backsplash & Tile

*Counters

*Sink & Drain

*High Chairs

*Table Cloth

Steam Cleaning the Bathroom

The bathroom is my favorite place to use my SteamMachine. It is germ city in there and once I have steamed all the surfaces I feel so much better. The hinges of the toilet seat, tile grout, and the sink drain are just a few of the "icky" places you can sanitize without harsh chemicals!

*Toilet

*Tile & Grout

*Sink & Drain

*Faucets

*Tub & Shower

*Cabinet Hardware

Steam Cleaning the Bedroom

We spend a lot of time in our room so it makes sense that it should be a priority to keep it clean. Have you ever cleaned your mattress? Steam cleaning it kills dust mites and germs. Shoe organizers tend to get a little smelly and dirty. Do you hate ironing? While you have your steam cleaner out, why not steam the wrinkles out of your clothes? Works like a charm and is much more fun!

*Mattress 

*Wrinkled Clothes

*Dresser

*Toys

*Plastic Bins & Shoe organizers

Steam Cleaning the Living Room

My boys smelly feet spend a lot of time lounging in here and it sure smell like it. From the rugs to upholstery, the SteamMachine can get rid of the oder and freshen up the room.

*Throw pillows

*Upholstery

*Rugs & Carpet

*Floors

Places in Every Room To Use the Steam Cleaner

Things like baseboards and light switches are in every room of the house. While you have the SteamMachine out you might as well tackle the door knobs, garbage cans, and blinds!

*Garbage Cans

*Baseboards

*Light Switches

*Windows

*Window Tracks

*Curtains

*Blinds

*Door Knobs

*Outdoor Furniture

*Steam Off Wallpaper

Other Places to Use The Steam Cleaner

Remember when Shane got his old beater car for free but it was a dirty, grimy mess? The SteamMachine made it looks so fresh and clean! Your washing machine is supposed to get things clean and yet it gets pretty dirty in places like around the bleach dispenser and around the hinges of the lid. Inside the house and outside the house, there are plenty of places to put the SteamMachine to good use!

*Car Seats & Stroller

*Washing Machine

*Barbeque

*Car

*Vents

*Sanitize Reclaimed Wood

HomeRight is giving away one SteamMachine Elite to one reader. Enter below using the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck and happy steaming!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You must be at least 18 years old to enter. You must be a resident of the USA to enter. The giveaway will go from January 15, 2019 until January 22, 2019. A winner will be chosen by random.org and will be notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be chosen. The shipping of the prize is the responsibility of the company, in this case, HomeRight.

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This post was sponsored by HomeRight but all opinions and ideas are 100% my own.

When I think of Fall, I think of leaves changing colors, pumpkins, canning vegetables from my garden, and.... deep cleaning! The cleaning bug starts to bite when the kids go off to school. After the kids have been home all summer making messes, it is nice to get things all scrubbed. When I think of deep cleaning, I immediately think of my SteamMachine! It is so nice to steam clean the house from top to bottom.

One of my favorite places to steam clean is in the bathroom. First of all because it has loads of germs and also because there are a ton of nooks and crannies that are hard to clean with anything else.

I start with the sink. Talk about nooks and crannies! The grooves where the metal meets the ceramic sink tend to have a lot of stuff built up. Some steam with the little scrub brush is the only way to get rid of it! And when I take the stopper out, it smells like a fish tank. I scrub that up too.

I rinse the scrub brush off and head over to the tub.

The next thing I steam clean is our tub and shower. Our tub and faucet are new so there wasn't a ton of grime to clean up, but it is really good at getting the water spots off. Darn hard water! When the tile gets a bit more use out of it, it will be nice to use the floor attachment to clean it up.

I love the look of my cute vanity hardware, but when I wipe them off, I can never get the dust out the grooves along the edges. My SteamMachine gets the built up dust off in seconds!

Next I work my down to the vent and baseboards. The same small scrub brush attachment is great for the top of the baseboards that collect dust (especially corners!). I make sure and have a dry rag handy to wipe it all away.

Floors are next. There's a mop head to tackle the whole floor and then I use the jet nozzle tip and the small brush tip to work on the grout.  You can see one part of the tile has been cleaned and the other hasn't.

The last thing I steam clean is the toilet. The hinges are the worst kind of nook and cranny. The germs lurking there make my skin crawl. When the steam hits it and stuff comes out from there it is both gross and satisfying at the same time. I go ahead and steam the outside of the bowl and the base. Those knobs that cover the floor screws are also tough to clean unless you use the SteamMachine.

When I am done I scrub the tips I used in hot soapy water before putting them away for next time.

Now's your chance to win one of these for yourself and jumpstart your Fall cleaning!

Use the Rafflecopter widget to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You must be at least 18 years old to enter. You must be a resident of the USA to enter. The giveaway will go from September 26, 2018 to October 3, 2018. A winner will be chosen by random.org and will be notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be chosen. The shipping of the prize is the responsibility of the company, in this case, HomeRight.

I love Spring, I really do. It is my favorite season for many reasons. The warmth after a long winter, new growth and life, flowers appearing, starting the vegetable garden, and the 70-degree temperatures are just a few of those reasons. There is one hitch though. Allergies. Half of our family not only have seasonal allergies but mild allergies year-round. We have started to be more proactive around our house by doing things like changing our furnace filters more often, cleaning the vents and ducts more frequently, and dusting surfaces every day. One thing that you may not think of right away as a way of battling allergens, dust, pollen, molds, and dander is to use quality vacuum bags & filters and change them out as recommended. Maybe my boys will like vacuuming more if I tell them they are battling dust mites and the vacuum is their weapon. What do you think?

It is shocking and gross just how fast we can fill up a vacuum canister or bag. But it does make me happy that it is in there, and not in my home. Not only do they trap allergens, but if you change your filters and bags often, it will extend the life of your vacuum (vacuum bags should be changed every 1-2 months for optimal vacuum performance and filters every 3-6 months) . When I was a newlywed, I went through several vacuums. I kept thinking they were broken but really, I just was not keeping them clean and wasn’t changing the filters or bags like I should.

Raise your hand if you religiously use ARM & HAMMER baking soda? I go through boxes like crazy! Did you know that ARM & HAMMER has a line of vacuum bags, filters, scent packs, and carpet cleaners? Mind blown. I know that a vacuum post might seem a little off topic for my blog on home décor, but I jumped at the chance to write this post because of my love of baking soda and my hate of allergies. And because I feel like when not taken care of, our vacuums can do more harm than good but when kept clean with new filters and bags, they can be that weapon we need against allergens in our homes to keep us healthy. What is the use of having a pretty home if it makes you sick from sneezing and it smells? With four boys and a dog, I can use all the help I can get!

ARM & HAMMER has a new site where you can look up which filter and/or bag will fit your vacuum. There is one for nearly every vacuum out there! You can order right from their site too.

I would love to hear what you do to help battle allergens in your home. Please share any helpful tips in the comments below.

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This post was sponsored by ARM & HAMMER. I was given products to review. All opinions and ideas are 100% all mine.

My favorite tool to help with the process is my SteamMachine. My HomeRight post this month is all about decluttering and cleaning your home. This winter I started with my kitchen. In fact, I posted a video of my son using it to clean the oven on instagram stories and so many of you were impressed. I don't think I have ever gotten that many messages before! Another place in the kitchen I tackled was the inside of my lazy susans. They have a ribbed texture on the plastic trays and before I had the SteamMachine I could never get it 100% clean. I use the the scrub brush tip and it works like a charm!

When I was done, I was really picky about what went back in. I made sure all the tupperware had matches and any left over lids (why is it always the lids?) got chucked. I found I had too many medium sized bowls. Many of them I hardly use at all. They went to the basement to the yard sale pile. I thinned the herd so to speak with all the cabinets.

Let's chat about silverware trays. Am I the only one who has their tray fill with mystery crumbs? Are my kids secretly eating crackers over the open drawer? Where are these crumbs coming from? Even after dumping the crumbs out, my organizers look gross. I scrubbed it with the same tip and it looked like new :)

My cabinets were here when we moved in so I don't know how old they are. After being wiped out many times over the years, the inside of the cabinets and drawers are all chippy and ugly. I decided to wipe them out with a rag and then add some cute contact paper.

How perfect is this contact paper? I found it on Amazon (affiliate link) and I absolutely love it.

I decided to have our everyday silverware in the drawer and our other silverware in a box in the pantry. That way our drawer isn't as crammed full and messy looking.

HomeRight is giving away one SteamMachine and one of their accessory bags! I was always losing the accessories that don't fit in the compartment on the SteamMachine. I didn't really have a good place to store them. Now I hang the bag in my laundry room and I always know where they are.

Use the rafflecopter widget to enter.

Must be 18 years or older to enter and a resident of the United States. The giveaway will run from January 27, 2018 until February 2, 2018. The winner will be picked via random.org and will be notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The company, HomeRight, will be responsible for shipping the prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post was sponsored by HomeRight and all opinions and ideas are 100% my own.

I have boys and a dog so your furniture gets messy. The lint roller may get rid of crumbs and dog hair, but not the smell or any spills. SteamMachine to the rescue!

My mom didn't pay us to do chores with two exceptions. The oven and the fridge. Both earned you $5.  Both are easier to tackle with the SteamMachine. Even the most stubborn crevices are a breeze

.

Window tracks. Ugh. I hate how much dirt, dust, and spider webs seem to find their way in there. Use the jet stream nozzle and a rag to wipe it all away!

Dishwashers whole job is to get things clean so why do they get so dirty? The worst place is along the inside top of the door.

Most toys you can soak in hot soapy water but some that have batteries or a hole and squeaker can't go in water without dire consequences. SteamMachine to the rescue!

After a summer of ice cream cones, french fries, and camping, our poor vehicles could use a once over. I'm sure I am not the only one with crusty mystery spills in the carpet, right?

You can read my full post about cleaning a vehicle with a SteamMachine.

The bathroom is actually one of my favorite places to use the steamer. The most satisfying thing you will ever steam is the hinges on your toilet. The stuff that seeps out will give you nightmares but knowing it is no longer lurking there is so nice! It is such a tough spot to clean otherwise.

Here are all the things I clean with the SteamMachine:

Whole House

Floors, windows (glass and tracks), baseboards, door knobs, light switches, garbage cans, ceiling fans

Kitchen

Dishwasher, fridge, oven/stove, microwave, backsplash, floors, sink, faucet

Living room

Upholstered furniture, remotes, curtains, throw pillows, rugs

Bathroom

Toilet, sink, faucet, shower floor and glass doors, tile grout,

Bedrooms

Mattresses, children's toys

Other

Vehicles, grills, outdoor furniture, stains on porch, strollers or car seats, washing machine/dryer

HomeRight just came out with an an organizer for all the accessories that come with the SteamMachine. I am so excited because I have parts all over my house. I have cleaning caddies and a cleaning cabinet and a spot in my laundry room too. Now I can have all the parts in one spot! You can hanging it or it folds into a carrying bag.

Today HomeRight is giving away a SteamMachine PLUS a hanging Accessory Bag!

Enter using the rafflecopter widget below.

Giveaway is open to US residents only. You must be 18 years or older to enter. The giveaway runs from September 28, 2017 until October 5, 2017. The winner will be chosen via random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. HomeRight is responsible for shipping the prize. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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This post was sponsored by HomeRight but all ideas, photos, and opinions are all my own.

I wrote an article over on the HomeRight blog about deep cleaning. I gave a detailed list for each room of your house and I even have a cute FREE printable for you!

Speaking of free, lets giveaway a SteamMachine shall we? I have both versions of the HomeRight steamers and I love them. Today I am going to be giving away this one:

It will become your new best friend. Here is a list of the some of the things I use it for.

*Steaming the wrinkles out of curtains

*Steaming the wrinkles out of clothes

*Cleaning decorative throw pillows

*Cleaning upholstery

*Cleaning windows (especially the tracks!)

*Cleaning the toilet (especially the seat hinges)

*Cleaning tile grout

*Cleaning your oven door

*Sanitizing the floors

*Sanitizing light switches

*Cleaning the inside of your car

*Cleaning hard water off glass shower doors

*Cleaning any crevice, nook, or cranny that is otherwise difficult to clean

*Cleaning baseboards (especially the corners)

It pretty much cleans and sanitizes everything in your house :)

Enter below using the Rafflecopter widget.

Must be 18 years or older and a resident of the USA. Giveaway will run from March 9, 2017 until March 15, 2017. The winner will be chosen by random.org and will be notified via email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The prize will be shipped by the company, HomeRight.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

When HomeRight came out with a new steam machine meant just for vehicles, I knew it was high time I detailed our poor van. They sent me one to try out and I get to give one away!

AutoRight Steam Machine

And because I love before and after pics, here are a few of the best!

You guys, I don't even know what is in that cup holder. Eww. Also, I am hating how it gets darker so much faster in the evenings. We almost lost good light for the after photos which is why they are a bit darker.

Normally the hardest places to clean are the nooks and crannies like where the seats connect to the floor but the steam machine makes it a breeze!.

I use several of the attachments, but I have to say that this one is my favorite.

The picture on the left is actually an inbetween photo instead of a true before. We scraped off most of the mud before steaming. The carpet looks better in the after too!

The before picture doesn't look too bad, but it was sticky plus we had vacuumed the dirt out of it. How does dirt even get in the door handle? Little boys, that is how.

Are you ready to enter to win one for yourself?!

Enter below using the rafflecopter widget.

*You must be at least 18 years old to enter. You must be a resident of the USA to enter. The giveaway will go from November 10, 2016 until November 17, 2016. A winner will be chosen by random.org and will be notified by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be chosen. The shipping of the prize is the responsibility of the company, in this case, HomeRight. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post was sponsored by HomeRight but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Our family has been lucky in the past and have not gotten sick a lot. Earlier this month we were hit with the most horrendous flu. Before this time, my kids have always made it to the bathroom or at least made it to the bowl by their bed. This time however, it came on so fast that they were making messes left and right. Three things saved my sanity... essential oils, chocolate, and my SteamMachine.

I ended up making makeshift beds in the unfinished part of our basement since it is right next to the bathroom. I brought in a little TV/VCR combo we have held onto so they could watch the few VHS videos we have left. Then I sanitized the heck out of the upstairs. Healthy people up....sick people down.

If you have ever had more than one kid sick with the flu (especially the "bonus flu" as we call it) then you know the smell came take over your house. I swear it it the worst smell in the universe.

Pause

I can't believe I am writing about throw up, diarrhea, and toilets.....

Resume

OK, the smell. I seriously thought it was going to take forever to get my house back to smelling normal. I was doing enough laundry you have thought that would have helped. When I steam cleaned the upstairs bathroom, the smell went away. It smelled (for lack of a better word) neutral. No smell! I figured it was pointless to keep cleaning the downstairs bathroom while kids were still sick, so as soon as they were all well, I steamed the down bath too.

You know how hard it is to clean around all the hinges on the seat? And the knobs covering the screws on the base? Steam them and stuff will ooze out that will haunt your dreams. You will be grossed out that it has been there the whole time.

Pretty much everything gets steamed in the bathroom. I steam not only the toilet but the sink, shower, door, and the tile. There are different attachments you can change out depending on what you are cleaning. You can even clean windows, but not when it is cold outside. You don't want to risk the glass cracking.

HomeRight SteamMachine Steamer  (affiliate)

I pretty much steam everything in my house. I have even used it on my oven and Shane's old beater car.

Alright, so who is ready to win one?!? One lucky reader will win a SteamMachine from HomeRight.

Let's keep it simple this time and just leave a comment telling me what the first thing you would clean would be. Giveaways ends March 2, 2016.

*Open to US residents 18 years and older. Winner will be chosen by random.org and will be notified via email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The prize will be shipped by the company HomeRight. 

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED

I am proud brand ambassador for HomeRight and have been compensated for this post. All opinions and experiences are my own 

I'm not sure if I would have thought to use the steamer on the car on my own or not. The idea was brought up by Laura from HomeRight when we were in the HomeRight booth together at the Pinners Conference (being a brand ambassador has its perks). She said they go to auto shows as well and do demos on cleaning the car upholstery and all the other nooks and crannies. Genius! I knew we had to try it on Shane's old car.

Shane actually did the whole thing. He hasn't had a chance to use the Steamer yet (I hoard it) and he really liked it!

First you will need to vacuum it out really well.

Then the fun part....steaming! Make sure you have plenty of rags to clean up the dirt and grime that the steam releases from the carpet and upholstery.

The SteamMachine is great for nooks and crannies too. Shane used the small nylon brush and the jet nozzle attachments for these places.

Here are some before and afters.

Next he did the floors. The carpet was gross!!!

He used the large nylon brush and scrubbed then dabbed with the rags.

And here is a before and after!

The last step was upholstery. I realized after the fact that I never got a before picture of the seats. But trust me, they were nearly as gross as the floors.

The after :)

If the weather had been warm (it was a brisk 15 degrees f) we would have washed the windows with the squeegee attachment but you will crack the glass if you apply heat when the temperature is cold. I guess we will have to wait for spring to try that out :)

Now who wants to win one?!

I have one SteamMachine up for grabs. Enter below using the rafflecopter widget.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

When we last left the laundry room I had given it an update and it looked much better than the "unfinished basement" look it had going on before.

It looked nice, but I had no system when it came to folding and taking care of laundry. Well, I take that back. I had a system. It went like this....

Take laundry out of the dryer, dump on bed, let it sit there until bedtime, then move it to the floor, let it sit there, and eventually get around to folding it when most of it had been picked out and worn anyway.

Tell me I am not alone in my sad little laundry ritual.

I knew I needed a better system. If you remember, when I had shared the makeover I shared the mood board. It looked like this:

The laundry basket pictured came from Crate and Barrel. It was exactly the look I was going for, but it was $60 for one and I needed three. And sadly, that was the CHEAPEST I could find. I put off buying them because I couldn't picture paying that much. Fast forward to when I went to Iowa for the BHG event. They showed us their new products and guess what!? They had a laundry basket in the same style and size! I may have gotten a little over excited. Guess how much it costs? $16.77!!! As soon as they became available I bought three. They have been in and out of stock online due to their popularity. If the laundry baskets are out of stock in your stores, be patient. They are such a good deal!

I saved $130 by waiting and not buying the CB laundry baskets!

Now as far as a folding center goes I still needed some help. My kids have never had their own laundry baskets. When we fold clothes they just take care of them from the pile on my bed. And by take care of them I mean dump them on their bed where they then get unfolded.

I bought these metal bins for their laundry baskets.

You might recognize the storage bench they are on. It use to be in my office. I brought in down to the basement when I turned my office into a temporary photography studio for the photos in my book. I like it down here so it is going to stay. I am working on replacement storage cabinets right now :)

Eventually when we are able to frame out the wall that will go right across from this bench, I will put a folding table against the new wall. Then I will have a place to fold other than my bed! I can fold and hang and put them right in their baskets.

Speaking of hanging clothes..... I needed a bar for the clothes that didn't get folded. I used pipe and I love that I was able to customize the length and how low or high it hung. It's super inexpensive too!

One day (after the wall gets built) I will finally be able to have a pretty floor. But for now the cement works. It is easy to clean even if it isn't the most gorgeous thing to look at.

I think I need to add some hooks to that bare spot on the wall above the laundry baskets. Or maybe a clothing rack.

What matters the most is that it functions much better now!

Do you want a chance to buy some of the darling storage products from Better Homes and Gardens? I get to give away a $100 Walmart Gift Card!

Here is how to enter:

*Must be 18 years or older and a resident of the USA to enter. The giveaway will run from January 14th until January 2oth. The winner will be announced via the rafflecopter widget and notified via email. The winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The winner is chosen at random by random.org through the rafflecopter widget. The gift card will be sent to the winner by BHG. 

Let's keep it simple. Just a comment!

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This post sponsored by Better Homes and Gardens products at Walmart. All opinions and projects ideas are my own. Catch up with the BHG Live Better on Facebook,Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram.

I live with 5 boys. They are dirty. Anything I can get away with throwing in the washer, I throw in the washer. Toys, stuffed animals, shoes, coats, etc.

Unfortunately, you can't just throw your mattress in the washing machine. As often as we wash our sheets, it doesn't stop the fact that our mattress is still, umm, less than clean. Never fear, my favorite cleaning tool is here to rescue your mattress.

This SteamMachine Plus is my favorite steam machine/mop I have ever had. The fact that the inside part comes out and becomes a hand held steamer rocks my world. I no longer iron. The steamer is faster (and way more fun) than ironing and does a better job. I wrote another post about the most common ways I use it. I have since added steaming my mattresses to the list as well.

I vacuumed my mattress really well first. Then I filled my SteamMachine with water and let it heat up. It takes just seconds!  Make sure you have the carpet glide attachment (the black snap on part). Then just slowly go over your mattress in the same way you would vacuum a floor. Your mattress may be slightly damp when you are done, but it drys quickly.

When I steam my rugs I use the mopping pad as well. For the mattress I didn't use it. I just attached the black carpet glide. I think it is fine either way.

It really is that simple!

I did all four of my boys' mattresses about 2 weeks ago and I just got around to doing mine this week. Fall cleaning is going to have to be in small spurts this year. Writing a book is no joke! It has been hard to fit everything in every day. Luckily, steaming my mattress took all of 10 minutes.

Do you want to get your Fall cleaning on? Enter below to win a SteamMachine Plus!!!

*Must be 18 years or older and a resident of the USA to enter. Giveaway runs from September 5th until September11th. The winner will be chosen randomly by random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The company supplying the prize (in this case HomeRight) is responsible for the shipping of the prize. 

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I was compensated for this post but the ideas, comments, and opinions are all mine baby!

I have partnered with HomeRight to giveaway one of my favorite cleaning tools ever, the STEAM MACHINE. But before we get to the giveaway, I wanted to share some tips and a check list for deep cleaning your home.

TIPS:

*Just like the analogy about eating the elephant (eww, who came up with that anyway?), don't look at your home and think it all has to be done all at once. I always take one room at a time.

*I try to start at the top and work my way down. And yes, I scrub my ceilings. Luckily for me we have 8 foot ceilings in the whole house. We get fly specks and spider webs on them and in the kitchen it can even be a little greasy.

*Enlist some help! Sometimes I prefer to clean alone but now that my kids are getting older I have them do quite a bit. Figure out what jobs are appropriate for the age of each child and give them assignments. Ideally at our house we deep clean on a Saturday morning. One child is in charge of keeping my 3 year old happy, one child is with me in one room and the other child is with my husband in another room. Two rooms get done at once and the youngest is happy. We rotate kids on half hour basis.

*And I ALWAYS play music. I have found I get my kids to work longer if I have fun music playing. And let's be honest, I work longer too :)

Here are the cleaners I use at my house:

Vinegar, Goo Gone, Basic H,  Thieves oil (mixed with water in a spray bottle), Magic Eraser, Baking Soda, Clorox wipes, Dawn, Lemons or lemon juice, Fish Foam, and Bleach

Now let me tell you a little story about myself.... I use to use bleach on everything. EVERYTHING. I was a bleach-aholic due to the fact that I was a HUGE germaphobe. Before I started blogging I spent a good chunk of everyday (the time I now use building my business) on cleaning. In my mind, unless I used bleach, the germs didn't die.

I have come along way. I credit having this blog as a big reason I have calmed the heck down. I have something else to focus my time on. I have also been introduced to other ways of cleaning that are better. Now bleach is still pictured because I still do use it on occasion. I use it with laundry, I put it down smelly drains, and a few other things. But I don't go through jugs the way I use to.

Alright, let's go room to room shall we?

All of the House:

These are things all if not most of your rooms will have in common.

*Air vents. Our air returns get marbles, Legos, crackers, and other small objects in them as well as dust. I remove the covers, take out the bigger stuff, then vacuum out the dust. Sometimes I even wipe them out. The heat vents also get vacuumed out. I stick the shop vac hose down as far as it will go.

*I wash the walls with either cleaning wipes or sudsy wet rag. I am always amazed at how much dust can accumulate on the walls. And if you have kids, smudges, food, and other...um...things can be there.

* Windows.... Confession: I have never washed the outside of my windows aside from hosing them off. But we do wash them on the inside. My boys fight over who gets to wash them because they all love using Fish Foam. If you have kids, you know how quickly windows get fingerprints and smudges. Don't forget the window sills and window tracks. The steam machine works great in the tracks. It is great for any crevice actually.

* Curtains, draperies, and blinds will need to be taken down and washed (or dry cleaned). I take my blinds down and either soak them in the tub or spray them off in the shower. Then I let them air dry before hanging them back up. I have the cheap plastic ones and when they start to yellow a little I add bleach to the water  as they soak and it makes them white again.

* Don't forget your ceiling fans and light fixtures! I ache for those of you who have super high ceilings. Make sure and be careful if you use a ladder to reach them. Sometimes if you have really high ceiling you may need to hire it out.

* Back in the day when I was a major germaphobe I would religiously disinfect the remotes, door knobs, light switches, and phones daily. I usually only remember once a week now. But I know a lot of people forget them so I am throwing it out there. They are some of the most touched things in our home.

*I actually have "cleaning baseboards" on my little boy's chore chart. He is suppose to do it every day upstairs. So our baseboards are not super bad. But they do get scuffs that I clean using the magic eraser. And after weeks and weeks of my little guy wiping the dust, it builds in the corners. Do you know what I mean? Whenever there is a ledge that you wipe, where ever the ledge meets a corner, the dust gets stuck. I have recently found that the best way to get it clean is my steam machine.

The Kitchen:

If I said that I would rather poke my eye out rather than deep clean my kitchen would that be a touch too dramatic? Because it sure feels that way. And growing up my mom always told me to start with the job you hate the most, first. So the first room we will discuss is the kitchen.

*Clean under the fridge and oven/stove. Yep. That means you have to move them. Sometimes the kids and I guess what will be under there before I pull it out. There is almost always marbles, hot wheel cars, rubber bands, pencils, cereal, and crackers. Oh, and of course...dust bunnies!

*Clean the coils behind the fridge. I just use a vacuum attachment to suck off the dust.

*The kitchen cabinets need to be emptied and washed out. I like to use a damp rag and Dawn dish soap. Sometimes the insides of the cabinets can be a little greasy. Wipe the outsides as well. Mine are painted but if you don't have painted cabinets I recommend Minwax's Wood Cabinet Cleaner. It is fabulous! Replace worn shelf paper/liners. And clean the tops as well. I use contact paper on the tops of my cabinets so all I have to do is pull off the old paper and replace it. Works great!

*Wash down small appliances. Make sure they are unplugged and use a damp washcloth. Again, I use dish soap. The base of our blender usually wins for dirties small appliance but they all need a scrub.

*Clean inside the fridge. If there are lingering odors, use lemon juice and baking soda. I actually leave some baking soda in my fridge at all times to absorb any smells. Also check the expiration dates on everything especially condiments.

*Clean out your oven. You can see how I cleaned my oven door with the steam machine.

*Clean your microwave inside and out. I stick a wet rag in there and microwave it for one minute. I let it sit there a few more minutes and then wipe it out. The steam from the rag will soften dried food. If odor is a problem add lemon juice to the wet rag.

*If you have a garbage disposal, pour bleach or lemon peels down it to get rid of odor. Clean your sink really well. In most homes it is dirtier than the toilet.

*Clean your dishwasher. Mine sometimes gets stagnate water on the bottom and turns orange-ish. Jilee from One Good Thing has a good tutorial.

Bathroom:

Kitchen and bathrooms are kind of a toss up for grossest room in my opinion. The steam machine is my favorite bathroom cleaning tool. I also use vinegar(for the shower), fish foam (for the mirrors), and cleaning wipes.

*Soak your shower head in vinegar if the holes get clogged with mineral deposits. If yours is not the kind that detaches, then fill a baggie with vinegar and use a rubber band to keep it in place around the head. Soak overnight and simply turn on the rise away the vinegar.

*Use a steam machine with a brush attachment to scrub soap scum off shower stall doors. Also if your shower floor (or tub) has a textured surface, the steam machine with brush attachment will clean it well.

*The steam machine also does tile grout well. I use to use an old tooth brush.

*You need to clean the bathroom fan. Take off the cover and scrub it in the sink. Use a rag or duster to clean the inside and then replace the cover.

*The counters and cabinets get wiped with cleaning wipes at our house. Sometimes I spray thieves. I believe in the cleaning power of the thieves oil, I just have not gotten use to the smell. It is a personal preference thing. I know most people love it.

*The toilet..... The crappiest thing in the house to clean (pun intended). I really need to take a pumice stone to mine. I have heard that if you dump a 2 liter bottle of Coke in there it will eat away and stains or mineral build up. If any of you have tried it please let me know in the comments. The area where the seat attaches to the toilet bowl has always been a tricky spot for me. When it comes to cleaning I pretty much hate any crack or crevice. A friend told me she uses her steam machine on hers. So I tried it and was happy :) Not only does all sorts of stuff come out that has been hiding, but the steam sanitizes it too. I use wipes on the outside of the toilet.

Family Room:

* Move the couch and other furniture and clean under them.

* Take the time to condition any leather furniture and to clean any upholstery. The steam machine has an attachment for upholstery!

* Vacuum in between cushions and save any money found to go in your chocolate fund.

* Clean TV remotes and electronics. I usually use cleaning wipes.

Office:

* Clean your computer and don't forget your keyboard, and mouse. For a good explanation  on how to get your keyboard clean, read this article from PC world.

* Organize your desk top and drawers.

* Get your filing cabinet in order. I usually have a tote full of things that need to be filed that I have collected over the past months. I sort it on the family room floor while watching a movie after my kids go to bed. Any job I can do while watching Downton Abbey is A-OK with me :)

Laundry Room & Utility Room:

* Clean your washing machine. I wipe the outside really well. I also wipe down the inside of the lid and where you pour the bleach. It gets super dirty (which seems weird since it is a machine that gets things clean) Jilee has another good post about how to clean both front loading and top loading machines.

* Clean behind and under the washer and dryer.

* While you are back there, vacuum out the dryer hose. It can be a fire hazard if lint gets built up.

* Clean the residue off of the lint trap with a tooth brush and soapy water.

* Clean or replace the furnace filters.

Bedrooms:

* Clean under the bed. I usually take the mattress and box spring off so I don't have to try and move the whole thing. Our room is so tiny there is not enough room to really move it. I prop the mattress and box springs up against the wall and vacuum my little heart out.

* Flip your mattress if needed. Ours is a pillow top so we don't flip it but we rotate it.

* Wash pillows and other bedding. I wash my pillows and bed spread almost as often as I wash my sheets.

* Organize your closets and donate clothing you no longer need.

* Move any other furniture and clean well under and behind.

Here is list to remind you of all the places to clean. You can pin it for reference later or print it and hang inside your cleaning supply closet.

Now for the giveaway!

If you read through my post you probably noticed that I use the steam machine a lot. I am always finding new uses for it too. It is a healthy way to sanitize and clean. And I get to give one away!

Please let me know of there are any issues with the Rafflecopter widget.

*You must be 18 years or older and a US resident to enter. The giveaway starts January 6th and runs until January 12th. The winner will be contacted via email and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be chosen. The winner is picked randomly through the Rafflecopter widget.

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