Author Topic: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain  (Read 170694 times)

Linea_Norway

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #350 on: March 17, 2017, 07:41:20 AM »
I am getting stressed out by coat hangers! I and my husband both hang our shirts and jackets in a wardrobe. Obviously, as the days pass we take a shirt off a hanger, wear it and put it in the laundry basket. We then have an empty hanger for a week or two.

What do we do with it?? If I leave it in the wardrobe it gets tangled up and lost among the other hangers and it's a pain to fish them all out again when I'm hanging clean shirts. At the moment we have a box by the laundry basket that we put them in, but they just get tangled up with each other again and I hate having the box hanging around.

Is there some magical coat hanger storage solution? If it makes a difference, all the shirt hangers are simple wire ones.

Just hang them back in the closet on the far right side (or left side). Then you know where to find it next time you need one.

BlueHouse

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #351 on: March 17, 2017, 12:28:09 PM »
Is there some magical coat hanger storage solution? If it makes a difference, all the shirt hangers are simple wire ones.

No wire hangers EVER! 

Seriously, a few years ago I got rid of all my mismatched hangers and now I have only two kinds. 

Everything on the bottom rod (blouses, shirts, etc) get this hanger (best hanger ever invented)
https://www.amazon.com/Mighty-Hanger-Lightweight-Shoulders-Wrinkle-free/dp/B01HT2AC9U/ref=sr_1_50?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1489775130&sr=1-50-spons&keywords=hanger+wood&psc=1

The heavier items (jackets, sweaters, blazers, etc) get this hanger
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F9VGIE2/ref=sxr_rr_xsim3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=2795440402&pd_rd_wg=BH80A&pf_rd_r=J4Q5C2X0MXC4XG1993FF&pf_rd_s=desktop-rhs-carousels&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B00F9VGIE2&pd_rd_w=BfekW&pf_rd_i=hanger+wood&pd_rd_r=1FQCFR1YPTZW9MMPVFY0&ie=UTF8&qid=1489775130&sr=3

It also made it so that I know exactly how many hangers I have in the house.  (100 of each type).  If I do not have a hanger to hang something up on, then something else has to go!  I suppose you could just count your hangers to get the same result, but having all one type of hanger on a closet rod makes your closet look so much neater. 
« Last Edit: March 17, 2017, 12:31:12 PM by BlueHouse »

Bracken_Joy

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #352 on: March 17, 2017, 12:39:41 PM »
1- I hate wire hangars with a fiery passion. I do plastic ones.
2- After pulling things off, we move them off to the side in the closet in their own "section". Then it's easy to grab them when I'm hanging the laundry back up. (It's better for your clothes to lift them off the hangar, vs PULLING them off the hangar, so we take the hangars out anyway, as we remove each piece of clothing. This also avoids the hangar snap-back, which flings it about to tangle with other clothes)

I took a picture =) http://imgur.com/a/Q83yV
« Last Edit: March 17, 2017, 12:42:53 PM by Bracken_Joy »

golden1

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #353 on: March 17, 2017, 12:55:53 PM »
I like this thread - I got some great ideas so far! 

Quote
Remove all the kitchen gadgets from your drawers and place them in a box somewhere in another room.  As you fetch them out and use them, return them to the drawer.  After X amount of time, throw away any kitchen gadget that hasn't been used. 

I really ened to do this.  I have a very cluttered small kitchen and I need to do a purge.

shelivesthedream

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #354 on: March 17, 2017, 03:55:34 PM »
Wow, intense hatred for wire hangers! I hate plastic ones! I always end up cracking them. Wire hangers are just fine for shirts - we have wooden ones for anything that needs a bit more TLC. *Sigh* Seems like I'll just have to get better at hanging them up in the wardrobe properly.

(Also, is hangar the American spelling? Several uses upthread, and makes me think of planes!)

CloserToFree

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #355 on: March 17, 2017, 03:59:17 PM »
Does anyone know whether those Clorox hard tablets that you put inside your toilet tank have bad environmental effects (or are there other reasons not to use them)?  I discovered these about a month ago and I have to say, they make the most amazing difference - our toilets are now spotless all the time, even without scrubbing.

Fresh Bread

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #356 on: March 17, 2017, 04:03:53 PM »
I put them back in the wardrobe but all together in one spot.

Catbert

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #357 on: March 17, 2017, 04:18:46 PM »
Wow, intense hatred for wire hangers! I hate plastic ones! I always end up cracking them. Wire hangers are just fine for shirts - we have wooden ones for anything that needs a bit more TLC. *Sigh* Seems like I'll just have to get better at hanging them up in the wardrobe properly.

(Also, is hangar the American spelling? Several uses upthread, and makes me think of planes!)

As an American I think that "hangers" are what you use in closets and "hangars" are what you store airplanes in.  But then I can't spell... 

Bracken_Joy

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #358 on: March 17, 2017, 06:00:23 PM »
(Also, is hangar the American spelling? Several uses upthread, and makes me think of planes!)

Probably not. I'm godawful at spelling in English. My homeroom was in Spanish, haha. Spellcheck is my miracle worker =\

Linea_Norway

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #359 on: March 18, 2017, 05:21:04 AM »
We use mostly wooden hanger from Ikea. They are quite thick and take up space. We also have some plastic ones left that you sometimes get with clothes.

mustachepungoeshere

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #360 on: March 18, 2017, 06:07:22 AM »
I am getting stressed out by coat hangers! I and my husband both hang our shirts and jackets in a wardrobe. Obviously, as the days pass we take a shirt off a hanger, wear it and put it in the laundry basket. We then have an empty hanger for a week or two.

What do we do with it?? If I leave it in the wardrobe it gets tangled up and lost among the other hangers and it's a pain to fish them all out again when I'm hanging clean shirts. At the moment we have a box by the laundry basket that we put them in, but they just get tangled up with each other again and I hate having the box hanging around.

Is there some magical coat hanger storage solution? If it makes a difference, all the shirt hangers are simple wire ones.

As we use hangers through the week, I grab them and slot them on my side of the wardrobe, which is half empty, and also closest to the hallway/laundry. I end up with a neat row of them, and just grab them out when I iron.

A box of wild coat hangers does sound like hard work. Even a hook in the laundry (over-door hook perhaps) would be better.

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #361 on: March 18, 2017, 10:33:41 AM »
Does anyone know whether those Clorox hard tablets that you put inside your toilet tank have bad environmental effects (or are there other reasons not to use them)?  I discovered these about a month ago and I have to say, they make the most amazing difference - our toilets are now spotless all the time, even without scrubbing.

They can off gas a little, and will gradually weaken (make more friable) cheap plastic parts in your tank if you leave them in longer than directed or double up (not usually a problem).  Never mix ammonia or other types of toilet cleaners when you do clean, so if you have kids around who may clean, think about what products you bring into the home.

Also,  they are disinfecting tablets, not so much "cleaning" tabs (unless there is a detergent combo I haven't seen).  You will still need to scrub the toilet occasionally, or a typical build up (looks clean but isn't) may occur.  e.g., twice a month instead of every other day, however.   

Oh, obviously they don't clean the toilet seat or rim.  For us, it is the seat / rim / behind the toilet seat areas that gross me out the most, so I don't use them anymore after trying them for a short time.



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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #362 on: March 18, 2017, 12:07:17 PM »
Does anyone know whether those Clorox hard tablets that you put inside your toilet tank have bad environmental effects (or are there other reasons not to use them)?  I discovered these about a month ago and I have to say, they make the most amazing difference - our toilets are now spotless all the time, even without scrubbing.

They can off gas a little, and will gradually weaken (make more friable) cheap plastic parts in your tank if you leave them in longer than directed or double up (not usually a problem).  Never mix ammonia or other types of toilet cleaners when you do clean, so if you have kids around who may clean, think about what products you bring into the home.

Also,  they are disinfecting tablets, not so much "cleaning" tabs (unless there is a detergent combo I haven't seen).  You will still need to scrub the toilet occasionally, or a typical build up (looks clean but isn't) may occur.  e.g., twice a month instead of every other day, however.   

Oh, obviously they don't clean the toilet seat or rim.  For us, it is the seat / rim / behind the toilet seat areas that gross me out the most, so I don't use them anymore after trying them for a short time.


Anything you flush does go into the water system, so they are adding to either pollution or to the load on water treatment plants - I'll leave it to someone else to consider how significant this is since I don't know what's in them.


Since the brand name is Clorox, though, I'd assume there's at least some bleach, and a constant slow application of bleach wouldn't do a septic system any favors. I wouldn't use them in my own house because of that (and because I can't guarantee dogs or cats will never drink it!)

KiwiSonya

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #363 on: March 19, 2017, 02:17:44 AM »
I just love this thread. The many rags method has been a revelation. I know this sounds weird but can anyone talk me through cleaning a toilet. I was never taught and now I have three boys peeing everywhere I need a more thorough and professional approach as my bathroom often smells like a urinal. Help!

Linea_Norway

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #364 on: March 19, 2017, 03:19:30 AM »
I just love this thread. The many rags method has been a revelation. I know this sounds weird but can anyone talk me through cleaning a toilet. I was never taught and now I have three boys peeing everywhere I need a more thorough and professional approach as my bathroom often smells like a urinal. Help!

I do it like this:
First I pour toilet duck into the toilet. Pour it as close as you can under the rim. It will by itself sink down. I also squeeze some in the water. Then I clean the sink, so that the toilet duck can do it's work.
Then I start cleaning the toilet from the top. I use water with a detergent and a cloth. Just use a wet and sqeezed cloth and wipe dust from the top of the water reservoir and the flush buttons. Then wipe the outside of toilet lid. And the porselain behind the lid. Then open the lid and wipe the other side. Then wipe the seat. Do the rims on outside and inside extra well. Open seat and clean the other side. Clean well where the seat it connected to the toilet. Then clean the rim of the toilet and outside of the toilet.
Take the brush and brush the inside of the toilet. Make sure to brush as far as you can under the rim. Brush also under the water surface, as deep as you can. Flush and keep the brush in the flush water to clean the brush.
I also wipe off the lid and seat with a dry cloth afterwards.
If you have a mat in front of the toilet, that mat should be washed in the machine from time to time. Or just remove it at all.

former player

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #365 on: March 19, 2017, 07:59:34 AM »
I just love this thread. The many rags method has been a revelation. I know this sounds weird but can anyone talk me through cleaning a toilet. I was never taught and now I have three boys peeing everywhere I need a more thorough and professional approach as my bathroom often smells like a urinal. Help!
Please, do yourself and the world a favour: teach your boys to pee properly by aiming where it won't splash.  If necessary, threaten them by saying you will take the lock off the door and supervise them and/or require them to sit down until they get it right.

Lews Therin

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #366 on: March 19, 2017, 08:20:50 AM »
Have them sit down?

Or make them clean it up themselves.

TomTX

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #367 on: March 19, 2017, 08:30:44 AM »
Have them sit down?

Or make them clean it up themselves.

Yep. This is the answer. If they are old enough to pee in the toilet unsupervised, they are old enough to make sure it all goes in the bowl, and clean up any misses.

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #368 on: March 19, 2017, 08:53:53 AM »
Does anyone know whether those Clorox hard tablets that you put inside your toilet tank have bad environmental effects (or are there other reasons not to use them)?  I discovered these about a month ago and I have to say, they make the most amazing difference - our toilets are now spotless all the time, even without scrubbing.

They can off gas a little, and will gradually weaken (make more friable) cheap plastic parts in your tank if you leave them in longer than directed or double up (not usually a problem).  Never mix ammonia or other types of toilet cleaners when you do clean, so if you have kids around who may clean, think about what products you bring into the home.

If you have a 'flapper' flush mechanism in your toilet, it's hell on the rubber.   Also, as the tablet dissolves, it will eventually be just the right size to (a) get flushed out of the tank and (b) perhaps get stuck in and block the airhole in the toilet.  Result?  An overflowing toilet.  Ask me how I know.  : )

Linea_Norway

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #369 on: March 19, 2017, 10:50:03 AM »
In public toilets they found out that men tend to aim better when there is a fly painted deep into the toilet. Maybe you can find a sticker that will stick.

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #370 on: March 19, 2017, 01:00:36 PM »
I changed how I did laundry a while back.  Now most of the adult cloths are hung to dry.  The key for me is that I hang the shirts on hangers so they are ready to put a way. 

So I might do 2 loads a week.  I get up one morning, start a load and unload the cloths dryer and put cloths away.  When the washer is done (delicate cycle so I can wash everything together) I hang everything up and forget about it until the I do laundry a few days later.  Laundry now takes 2 hours a week and only about 20 minutes of actual work

KiwiSonya

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #371 on: March 19, 2017, 04:30:50 PM »
I just love this thread. The many rags method has been a revelation. I know this sounds weird but can anyone talk me through cleaning a toilet. I was never taught and now I have three boys peeing everywhere I need a more thorough and professional approach as my bathroom often smells like a urinal. Help!

I do it like this:
First I pour toilet duck into the toilet. Pour it as close as you can under the rim. It will by itself sink down. I also squeeze some in the water. Then I clean the sink, so that the toilet duck can do it's work.
Then I start cleaning the toilet from the top. I use water with a detergent and a cloth. Just use a wet and sqeezed cloth and wipe dust from the top of the water reservoir and the flush buttons. Then wipe the outside of toilet lid. And the porselain behind the lid. Then open the lid and wipe the other side. Then wipe the seat. Do the rims on outside and inside extra well. Open seat and clean the other side. Clean well where the seat it connected to the toilet. Then clean the rim of the toilet and outside of the toilet.
Take the brush and brush the inside of the toilet. Make sure to brush as far as you can under the rim. Brush also under the water surface, as deep as you can. Flush and keep the brush in the flush water to clean the brush.
I also wipe off the lid and seat with a dry cloth afterwards.
If you have a mat in front of the toilet, that mat should be washed in the machine from time to time. Or just remove it at all.
Thanks Linda, that is very helpful especially with all details covered. I have one boy who sits and another who has started to clean up after himself so yes, I'm working on that angle too. I have to do a lot of reminders about flushing too. We will get to the point of being appropriately socialised but they are 4 & 6 so still on that learning curve. Thanks everyone.

JustGettingStarted1980

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #372 on: March 19, 2017, 04:47:56 PM »
Bump

chaskavitch

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #373 on: March 19, 2017, 05:04:32 PM »
PTF, because I don't have time to read everything right now, and I need this thread like nobody's business.

Cyanne

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #374 on: March 19, 2017, 07:38:42 PM »
When I was teaching kindergarten students we had a toilet that someone had "painted" a spot in the bowl using finger nail polish. That might help with the aim into the toilet.

KiwiSonya

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #375 on: March 20, 2017, 02:13:45 AM »
Thanks Cyanne, that was easy. I now have an orange spot for everyone to take aim at.

Vicster

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #376 on: March 20, 2017, 02:48:48 AM »
I found this book to be great...a little quirky but inspired me to have a big reclutter that has really helped with keeping things tidy...

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Changing-Magic-Tidying-effective-clutter/dp/0091955106

mustachepungoeshere

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #377 on: March 20, 2017, 02:52:23 AM »
Over the past year or so I've been re-evaluating which cleaning products I really need.

I've found it's much easier for my husband and guests to clean up after themselves if they open the cupboard under the sink and find a handful of items, rather than being overwhelmed by single-use products (stainless steel wipes, anyone?).

I have glass cleaner, dishwasher powder (cheaper and easier than tablets), dish soap, a spray bottle of diluted dish soap for surfaces, and a timber and leather polish. Those plus a roll of paper towel and a basket of clean cloths means it's pretty simple to navigate.

(I also keep toilet cleaner next to both toilets, and laundry powder, pre-wash spray, and bathroom cleaner in the laundry.)

As I've finished single-use products, such as wool wash or floor cleaner, that I've been given, I haven't bothered to replace them.

shelivesthedream

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #378 on: March 20, 2017, 03:16:07 AM »
Not wanting to create a huge mound of foam, but why do men/boys insist on peeing standing up? The amount of aggravation caused by peeing everywhere and leaving the seat up - surely it would be of great value to society if all mothers taught their boys to sit down as a matter of course. (Not fathers because I assume they stand up now and are part of the "problem"!)

Linea_Norway

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #379 on: March 20, 2017, 03:59:27 AM »
Over the past year or so I've been re-evaluating which cleaning products I really need.

I've found it's much easier for my husband and guests to clean up after themselves if they open the cupboard under the sink and find a handful of items, rather than being overwhelmed by single-use products (stainless steel wipes, anyone?).

I have glass cleaner, dishwasher powder (cheaper and easier than tablets), dish soap, a spray bottle of diluted dish soap for surfaces, and a timber and leather polish. Those plus a roll of paper towel and a basket of clean cloths means it's pretty simple to navigate.

(I also keep toilet cleaner next to both toilets, and laundry powder, pre-wash spray, and bathroom cleaner in the laundry.)

As I've finished single-use products, such as wool wash or floor cleaner, that I've been given, I haven't bothered to replace them.

My mother in law once told me I should use dish washer tablets which were much "better" than loose powder. I have always been a fan of using powder, deciding for myself how much I want to use per wash.

I also try to ha a limited number of cleaning materials. It also turned out that my DH is very allergic to cleaning materials used in floor wipes. I made the mistake of buying those when our previous house was on sale and everything needed to be shining. DH gets breathing problems. I had to throw away a whole box of these towels. I'll never buy these again.

shelivesthedream

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #380 on: March 20, 2017, 06:50:52 AM »
I just love this thread. The many rags method has been a revelation. I know this sounds weird but can anyone talk me through cleaning a toilet. I was never taught and now I have three boys peeing everywhere I need a more thorough and professional approach as my bathroom often smells like a urinal. Help!

I do it like this:
First I pour toilet duck into the toilet. Pour it as close as you can under the rim. It will by itself sink down. I also squeeze some in the water. Then I clean the sink, so that the toilet duck can do it's work.
Then I start cleaning the toilet from the top. I use water with a detergent and a cloth. Just use a wet and sqeezed cloth and wipe dust from the top of the water reservoir and the flush buttons. Then wipe the outside of toilet lid. And the porselain behind the lid. Then open the lid and wipe the other side. Then wipe the seat. Do the rims on outside and inside extra well. Open seat and clean the other side. Clean well where the seat it connected to the toilet. Then clean the rim of the toilet and outside of the toilet.
Take the brush and brush the inside of the toilet. Make sure to brush as far as you can under the rim. Brush also under the water surface, as deep as you can. Flush and keep the brush in the flush water to clean the brush.
I also wipe off the lid and seat with a dry cloth afterwards.
If you have a mat in front of the toilet, that mat should be washed in the machine from time to time. Or just remove it at all.

Total revelation.

Bracken_Joy

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #381 on: March 20, 2017, 08:30:47 AM »
Not wanting to create a huge mound of foam, but why do men/boys insist on peeing standing up? The amount of aggravation caused by peeing everywhere and leaving the seat up - surely it would be of great value to society if all mothers taught their boys to sit down as a matter of course. (Not fathers because I assume they stand up now and are part of the "problem"!)

Okay, I wondered this too! And so I looked it up. Thankfully, the internet provides answers. I will censor the most oft given reason:
Spoiler: show
most toilet bowls are shallow, so their penis can touch the bowl, and this is uncomfortable and unsanitary.
Here is the thread I saw this on: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskMen/comments/14xtoi/why_dont_guys_just_pee_sitting_down/

4alpacas

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #382 on: March 20, 2017, 09:47:47 AM »
I have glass cleaner, dishwasher powder (cheaper and easier than tablets), dish soap, a spray bottle of diluted dish soap for surfaces, and a timber and leather polish. Those plus a roll of paper towel and a basket of clean cloths means it's pretty simple to navigate.

My mother in law once told me I should use dish washer tablets which were much "better" than loose powder. I have always been a fan of using powder, deciding for myself how much I want to use per wash.
I love the tablets.  They're ridiculously expensive (I do wait until I have a coupon and sale, but they're still ridiculous), and I probably should switch back to the powder. 

I use vinegar to clean almost everything.  I buy gallon bottles of white vinegar, and I put it in my nice spray bottles as needed.  I also use vinegar while washing my towels (along with detergent).

adrianmorrell

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #383 on: March 20, 2017, 10:11:24 AM »
I have glass cleaner, dishwasher powder (cheaper and easier than tablets), dish soap, a spray bottle of diluted dish soap for surfaces, and a timber and leather polish. Those plus a roll of paper towel and a basket of clean cloths means it's pretty simple to navigate.

My mother in law once told me I should use dish washer tablets which were much "better" than loose powder. I have always been a fan of using powder, deciding for myself how much I want to use per wash.
I love the tablets.  They're ridiculously expensive (I do wait until I have a coupon and sale, but they're still ridiculous), and I probably should switch back to the powder. 

I use vinegar to clean almost everything.  I buy gallon bottles of white vinegar, and I put it in my nice spray bottles as needed.  I also use vinegar while washing my towels (along with detergent).
I don't have much I can add about cleaning, that's not really my forte, but if you like the dishwasher tablets, try these:
Finish All in 1 Powerball Fresh 85 Tabs, Automatic Dishwasher Detergent Tablets (Packaging May Vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GLXKDPC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_yT.ZybPD5NTFE

Current print works out to around .$0.17 per load. Is the powder significantly cheaper than that? I've been using these for years. I actually think I learned about them on this forum.

Adrian

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #384 on: March 20, 2017, 11:16:17 AM »
(Also, is hangar the American spelling? Several uses upthread, and makes me think of planes!)

Well, since you asked, no, "hanger" is the correct American spelling. "Hangar" is only for where planes are kept. Trust me, I'm a professional ;)

jeninco

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #385 on: March 20, 2017, 12:26:26 PM »
I just love this thread. The many rags method has been a revelation. I know this sounds weird but can anyone talk me through cleaning a toilet. I was never taught and now I have three boys peeing everywhere I need a more thorough and professional approach as my bathroom often smells like a urinal. Help!

<snip>

Thanks Linda, that is very helpful especially with all details covered. I have one boy who sits and another who has started to clean up after himself so yes, I'm working on that angle too. I have to do a lot of reminders about flushing too. We will get to the point of being appropriately socialised but they are 4 & 6 so still on that learning curve. Thanks everyone.

I've said this on other threads, but start teaching them to clean the toilets now, and assign them to take turns cleaning their bathrooms on a regular basis (we do weekly). It will take up to 6 months of instructional time and being calm and consistent for them to do a reasonable job -- be patient, and explicit about what constitutes acceptance criteria. It is now their job to clean the toilet they use (and you can expand this to having them clean the entire bathrooms -- it's not a huge job). Aim will vastly improve, and future roommates/partners will thank you.

chaskavitch

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #386 on: March 20, 2017, 12:34:11 PM »
Does anyone have any suggestions for vacuums with good attachments, or light vacuums that are ok with small rooms?  I like our vacuum overall (don't remember what brand it is offhand), but the hose attachments are TERRIBLE and basically useless.  I usually end up just taking our whole vacuum up the stairs while I vacuum them individually, which is ridiculous.  It is such a pain that I don't do it often enough, and it really kills me that the stairs (which are directly in front of our front door, and therefore the first thing people see in our house) are always visibly filthy with dirt and hair.

MMMaybe

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #387 on: March 20, 2017, 12:42:07 PM »
I am using this vacuum at the moment. Despite being very cheap, it is doing a great job. Its very lightweight and I am definitely more inclined to pull it out for a quick vacuum, as a result. We have a cat (hair) and stairs and it deals with both of those very well.

https://www.amazon.com/VonHaus-Upright-Handheld-Cleaner-Filtration/dp/B00OHTKVM2

chaskavitch

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #388 on: March 20, 2017, 12:47:15 PM »
I am using this vacuum at the moment. Despite being very cheap, it is doing a great job. Its very lightweight and I am definitely more inclined to pull it out for a quick vacuum, as a result. We have a cat (hair) and stairs and it deals with both of those very well.

https://www.amazon.com/VonHaus-Upright-Handheld-Cleaner-Filtration/dp/B00OHTKVM2

Haha.  The very first review is almost enough to make me buy it without reading anything else :)

mustachepungoeshere

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #389 on: March 20, 2017, 08:19:44 PM »
I have glass cleaner, dishwasher powder (cheaper and easier than tablets), dish soap, a spray bottle of diluted dish soap for surfaces, and a timber and leather polish. Those plus a roll of paper towel and a basket of clean cloths means it's pretty simple to navigate.

My mother in law once told me I should use dish washer tablets which were much "better" than loose powder. I have always been a fan of using powder, deciding for myself how much I want to use per wash.
I love the tablets.  They're ridiculously expensive (I do wait until I have a coupon and sale, but they're still ridiculous), and I probably should switch back to the powder. 

I use vinegar to clean almost everything.  I buy gallon bottles of white vinegar, and I put it in my nice spray bottles as needed.  I also use vinegar while washing my towels (along with detergent).
I don't have much I can add about cleaning, that's not really my forte, but if you like the dishwasher tablets, try these:
Finish All in 1 Powerball Fresh 85 Tabs, Automatic Dishwasher Detergent Tablets (Packaging May Vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GLXKDPC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_yT.ZybPD5NTFE

Current print works out to around .$0.17 per load. Is the powder significantly cheaper than that?
...

I originally switched to powder after my previous dishwasher had trouble dissolving tablets.

Powder works out at about half that per load for me. I buy Finish powder on sale and, as others have said, I use less powder than recommended.

theadvicist

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #390 on: March 21, 2017, 04:35:21 AM »
Not wanting to create a huge mound of foam, but why do men/boys insist on peeing standing up? The amount of aggravation caused by peeing everywhere and leaving the seat up - surely it would be of great value to society if all mothers taught their boys to sit down as a matter of course. (Not fathers because I assume they stand up now and are part of the "problem"!)

Okay, I wondered this too! And so I looked it up. Thankfully, the internet provides answers. I will censor the most oft given reason:
Spoiler: show
most toilet bowls are shallow, so their penis can touch the bowl, and this is uncomfortable and unsanitary.
Here is the thread I saw this on: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskMen/comments/14xtoi/why_dont_guys_just_pee_sitting_down/

Aha, makes perfect sense!

I used to live in Switzerland, in a flat, and after 9pm men were *required* to sit, so as to prevent annoying noise travelling through the building. I wonder if the bowls aren't so shallow at the front?

I believe in some countries (Czechia or Germany? I can't remember) the bowls are shaped so as to allow inspection of one's bowel contents before flushing. I can imagine that would add to the issue.

Squirrel away

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #391 on: March 21, 2017, 05:08:44 AM »
I switched over to space saving hangers and they are amazing. I bought them from Amazon, JVL Thin Velvet Touch Space Saving Non-Slip Coat Hangers, Black, Pack of 100. I donated all my old ones to a charity shop.


I am using this vacuum at the moment. Despite being very cheap, it is doing a great job. Its very lightweight and I am definitely more inclined to pull it out for a quick vacuum, as a result. We have a cat (hair) and stairs and it deals with both of those very well.

https://www.amazon.com/VonHaus-Upright-Handheld-Cleaner-Filtration/dp/B00OHTKVM2

I might buy that one. I have bad wrists and the vacuum I have is so heavy and clunky.

shelivesthedream

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #392 on: March 21, 2017, 06:10:41 AM »
Not wanting to create a huge mound of foam, but why do men/boys insist on peeing standing up? The amount of aggravation caused by peeing everywhere and leaving the seat up - surely it would be of great value to society if all mothers taught their boys to sit down as a matter of course. (Not fathers because I assume they stand up now and are part of the "problem"!)

Okay, I wondered this too! And so I looked it up. Thankfully, the internet provides answers. I will censor the most oft given reason:
Spoiler: show
most toilet bowls are shallow, so their penis can touch the bowl, and this is uncomfortable and unsanitary.
Here is the thread I saw this on: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskMen/comments/14xtoi/why_dont_guys_just_pee_sitting_down/

That's one of those things that I can never un-know. :) Still doesn't explain why parents don't teach their little boys to sit down until *it* becomes a problem for the boys. You could get a decade of cleanliness at least.

pbkmaine

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #393 on: March 21, 2017, 06:47:27 AM »
The reddit thread about men peeing sitting down is hilarious.

BlueHouse

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #394 on: March 21, 2017, 10:39:53 AM »
Not wanting to create a huge mound of foam, but why do men/boys insist on peeing standing up? The amount of aggravation caused by peeing everywhere and leaving the seat up - surely it would be of great value to society if all mothers taught their boys to sit down as a matter of course. (Not fathers because I assume they stand up now and are part of the "problem"!)

Okay, I wondered this too! And so I looked it up. Thankfully, the internet provides answers. I will censor the most oft given reason:
Spoiler: show
most toilet bowls are shallow, so their penis can touch the bowl, and this is uncomfortable and unsanitary.
Here is the thread I saw this on: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskMen/comments/14xtoi/why_dont_guys_just_pee_sitting_down/

That's one of those things that I can never un-know. :) Still doesn't explain why parents don't teach their little boys to sit down until *it* becomes a problem for the boys. You could get a decade of cleanliness at least.

I seriously was not understanding this explanation until just now (and I spent a good deal of time thinking about it).  I was picturing the [masked] explanation for the guys who were standing up, and picturing that I was pretty dumbfounded because I have never known anyone with THAT problem.  But now I realize that it becomes a problem when they are sitting.  Thank you very much.

Shinplaster

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #395 on: March 21, 2017, 12:00:16 PM »
When our son was smaller he was worried about falling into the toilet.  (skinny little butt).  So DH showed him how to sit on the seat facing the tank, so his butt was closer to the narrow part.  We used to call it 'riding the toilet', because he looked like he was mounting a pony.   DS loved it - he could line his toys up on the toilet tank and play a bit, and no mess on the floor for me.  I'm going to show our grandson how to do this when he's 3 too - DIL will thank me later.  : )

TomTX

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #396 on: March 21, 2017, 08:28:55 PM »
Thanks Cyanne, that was easy. I now have an orange spot for everyone to take aim at.

Shouldn't the spot be Cyan


(cue CSI: Miami shades removal) ....Yeeeaahhhhh!


Edit: Dunno how well this translates to text. It's really funny in my head.
« Last Edit: March 21, 2017, 08:44:18 PM by TomTX »

TomTX

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #397 on: March 21, 2017, 08:41:07 PM »
Not wanting to create a huge mound of foam, but why do men/boys insist on peeing standing up? The amount of aggravation caused by peeing everywhere and leaving the seat up - surely it would be of great value to society if all mothers taught their boys to sit down as a matter of course. (Not fathers because I assume they stand up now and are part of the "problem"!)

Okay, I wondered this too! And so I looked it up. Thankfully, the internet provides answers. I will censor the most oft given reason:
Spoiler: show
most toilet bowls are shallow, so their penis can touch the bowl, and this is uncomfortable and unsanitary.
Here is the thread I saw this on: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskMen/comments/14xtoi/why_dont_guys_just_pee_sitting_down/

That's one of those things that I can never un-know. :) Still doesn't explain why parents don't teach their little boys to sit down until *it* becomes a problem for the boys. You could get a decade of cleanliness at least.

Okay, a few items:

1) I have no problem peeing sitting down.
Spoiler: show
I have a (left) hand which will readily keep the contact situation from happening.
It's really NBD on most toilets.

2) My son is being taught to pee sitting down. If he wants to pee standing up, he can do it in the tub. If he pees on himself he gets hosed down.

3) Urinals. In most public restrooms, men pee standing up: To avoid having to wait, or sit on a questionable toilet seat. Reinforces a habit of standing to pee. And I'm NOT sitting in a portajohn unless it's an emergency. But they all have a pee funnel anyway.

4) Outdoors. Ladies, if you're not around - most guys aren't coming back in the house from the back yard to pee. They're peeing in the bush.
« Last Edit: March 22, 2017, 05:43:53 AM by TomTX »

mustachepungoeshere

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #398 on: March 21, 2017, 09:10:51 PM »
Not wanting to create a huge mound of foam, but why do men/boys insist on peeing standing up? The amount of aggravation caused by peeing everywhere and leaving the seat up - surely it would be of great value to society if all mothers taught their boys to sit down as a matter of course. (Not fathers because I assume they stand up now and are part of the "problem"!)

Okay, I wondered this too! And so I looked it up. Thankfully, the internet provides answers. I will censor the most oft given reason:
Spoiler: show
most toilet bowls are shallow, so their penis can touch the bowl, and this is uncomfortable and unsanitary.
Here is the thread I saw this on: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskMen/comments/14xtoi/why_dont_guys_just_pee_sitting_down/

That's one of those things that I can never un-know. :) Still doesn't explain why parents don't teach their little boys to sit down until *it* becomes a problem for the boys. You could get a decade of cleanliness at least.

I seriously was not understanding this explanation until just now (and I spent a good deal of time thinking about it).  I was picturing the [masked] explanation for the guys who were standing up, and picturing that I was pretty dumbfounded because I have never known anyone with THAT problem.  But now I realize that it becomes a problem when they are sitting.  Thank you very much.

I'm crying with laughter over here.

Should not have opened this thread at work!

Bracken_Joy

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Re: Advice for making your home interior easier to clean and maintain
« Reply #399 on: March 22, 2017, 10:48:24 AM »
Not wanting to create a huge mound of foam, but why do men/boys insist on peeing standing up? The amount of aggravation caused by peeing everywhere and leaving the seat up - surely it would be of great value to society if all mothers taught their boys to sit down as a matter of course. (Not fathers because I assume they stand up now and are part of the "problem"!)

Okay, I wondered this too! And so I looked it up. Thankfully, the internet provides answers. I will censor the most oft given reason:
Spoiler: show
most toilet bowls are shallow, so their penis can touch the bowl, and this is uncomfortable and unsanitary.
Here is the thread I saw this on: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskMen/comments/14xtoi/why_dont_guys_just_pee_sitting_down/

That's one of those things that I can never un-know. :) Still doesn't explain why parents don't teach their little boys to sit down until *it* becomes a problem for the boys. You could get a decade of cleanliness at least.

Okay, a few items:

1) I have no problem peeing sitting down.
Spoiler: show
I have a (left) hand which will readily keep the contact situation from happening.
It's really NBD on most toilets.

Okay, I seriously wondered this one. But, not being a dude, I didn't want to presume to be like "clearly you're just doing it wrong" because I HATE when men do that about women stuff.

But yeah, that was basically what my husband said when I asked him. "I think those guys are just idiots then?"