household duties

I am sure that I have made it pretty well known by now that I am not the best of housekeepers. I do feel like I give it a good crack (every once and a while), but it usually ends up kicking my butt.


I am feeling that I have got to get my act together soon because the older the kids get (not to mention one more on the way) the more chaotic and disastrous things will be. I need teach them (and model) to clean up after themselves and to have certain routines that only take minutes a day instead of hours a week. I think I just might start reading and doing some of the thousands of emails I get from flylady.


I thought that I could share one laundry tip that I learned from Hillari to give myself a big pat on the back. At least I know this:


If you forget about your laundry in the washer, or if you forgot to turn the dryer on and the clothes get that mildewy stank, you simply wash them again with white vinegar. Hillari told me that you didn't have to use detergent again, but I do just because I've been down that to-use-detergent-or-not-to-use-detergent road before. My decision is a whole hearted yes.


How much vinegar? I have no idea. I think I asked her, and I think she said the same thing. I figure it's about 1/2 c. to a full cup. I just spin the basin (I can't believe I pulled that word from the cobwebs in my brain) and swirl it around like Rachel Ray does with EVOO.


Thanks Hillari for this priceless little tip. I've had to use it so often I keep a bottle of vinegar with my laundry stuff.


I have a feeling I'll be perusing Erynn's new blog a lot too. Maybe she can help me get on the right track. She states that she wanted to be a home ec. teacher. I can't ever claim that's what I wanted to do. You go girlfriend!



P.S. Another great thing about blogging: I cleaned up the laundry cabinet: put all the paint supplies together, tossed all the random pieces of trash, put away things that had just been shoved up there just to take the picture to post! Now I have a nice and organized cabinet!