Save Valuable Time With Homejoy Cleaning

I am a wife, mom, blogger, social media guru, teacher, nurse, cook, chauffeur, coach, secretary and maid...but I really dislike that last title. In all honesty the last title is the one that I try to avoid! My house is by no means filthy, but I don't spend nearly enough time doing a deep cleaning like I should. But what if there was an easy way to find an affordable professionally certified cleaning company to do it for you?

Well there is and their name is Homejoy Cleaning!

Homejoy Cleaning offers services currently in San Francisco, New York, Boston, D.C., Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Austin, Boca Raton, Dallas, Miami and many more major cities around the USA and even Canada.

The company was founded in 2012 by a brother-sister duo Aaron and Adora Cheung. They are based in San Francisco and match professional cleaners with clients in need at nearly half the price. Isn't the internet amazing?

Homejoy offers affordable cleaning solutions for everyone including the mom with many hats, the busy college student or the savvy business owner. Homejoy charges $20 an hour for a basic cleaning service, with a variety of other offerings like laundry and fridge organization. They also offer a 100% guarantee.

Homejoy is simple to use:

1) Enter your zipcode.
2) Select rooms, square footage, extras you want to add and number of hours, and whether or not you will provide cleaning supplies.
3) Enter your contact information.
4) Choose your appointment time.
5) Enter payment information.
6) Review your order.

Homejoy will then dip into their network of certified professional cleaners and assign someone to tackle your home!

Now I don't know about you but I am all about saving money and time! Thanks to Homejoy you can do both. You will no longer have to spend hours searching for a reputable and affordable cleaning service, because it will be done with just a few clicks. And afterwards you can get back to focusing on more important things like spending time with your family.

Start Spring Out Right - FilterEasy.com Review and Giveaway

*This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

FilterEasy.com is an air filter subscription service. Their mission is to help people keep their homes healthy. With just a few clicks of your mouse you will NEVER forget to change your air filter again. FilterEasy.com will deliver fresh, quality air filters to you every 3 months providing you with cleaner air, healthier living, less stress, fewer costs, energy bill savings and a stronger HVAC system.

A moms review:
Spring has sprung here in Georgia and with that comes the dreaded pollen. Pretty soon the entire state of Georgia will be turning yellow and the sneezing, watery eyes will start for our entire family. One simple solution to help fight allergies this Spring is to replace your homes air filter! Do you even remember the last time you replaced your homes air filter? Are you a busy family who is looking to simplify home maintenance?

Well that is where FilterEasy.com can help. With their easy to use subscription service you can have a high quality, inexpensive air filter delivered to your door in just a few days. Then every 1,2,3 months (you select your interval) another air filter will be charged to your card on file and automatically shipped! There are 3 different air filter grades to choose from: LiteAllergen, MicroAllergen and SuperAllergen. And a wide selection of sizes. FilterEasy.com offers a 100% guarantee so if you order the wrong size, are not pleased for any reason or your filter arrives damaged they will make it right!

Because we all suffer from allergies I decided to go with the SuperAllergen filter. This filter has a MERV rating of 13, meaning that it will remove larger amounts of small particles. MERV 13 filters are what hospitals and general care facilities use. With this filter installed pollen, dust, pet dander, mold, bacteria, virus carriers, smoke, smog, etc won't stand a chance. The filter is $19.92 (that's about $7 a month).

Did you know? The EPA recommends filters between MERV 8 and MERV 13 be used in schools and that most homes use filters with a MERV 4 or less.

After removing our old filter I was shocked at the difference! Even through the dust (our old filter definitely needed replaced) I could tell that our new filter was a much higher quality. It was thinker and sturdier.

Did you know? Replacing your air filter regularly can save you 5%-15% on your monthly energy bill?

Flush To Paradise - Get A Dazzlingly Clean Toilet With Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care

*This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Who would have thought that flushing could be paradise? When I saw this Balls Dream Band video for the first time I just knew I had to share it with you. I love creative commercials and actually have a YouTube channel set up with commercials that I love, so I can watch them over and over again on days I need a good laugh.

A stay-at-home mom's work is never done. There is cleaning to be done, meals to cook, blog posts to write, a husband to spend time with, children to tend to 24/7 (especially if you are a homeschool mom), and the list goes on. Cleaning is definitely one area that I am always looking for help in! I don't know about you, but I dread cleaning the toilets...mostly because a certain little someone always miss's. I am always looking for great cleaning products, or ways to make chores a little more easier and fun! Well after watching this video you will definitely see your toilet in a whole new light!

The Balls Dream Band is back with a fun, creative commercial. With one flush you will be whisked away to a paradise where The Balls Dream Band will show you how sexy a clean, hygienic toilet can be. Your heart will race as you meet four very handsome gentlemen cleansing foam, anti-limescale formula, dirt  protector and extra freshness. Each represents an active ingredient in Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care. Together these 4 provide you with a dazzlingly clean toilet...well I wish it was really them that came and cleaned the toilet for me!

Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care is a powerful toilet cleaner with four powerful active ingredients:

• Cleansing foam: cleans the toilet with each flush
• Anti-limescale formula: prevents the build-up of limescale stains
• Dirt protector: helps prevent toilet grime
• Extra freshness: for a pleasant, fresh fragrance

These 4 balls work together to keep your toilet clean for up to 4 weeks. Just pop it in the toilet!

I don't know about you, but I will definitely be thinking about something else now when I clean my toilet, which won't be nearly as much thanks to Soft Scrub 4-in-1 Toilet Care!

What to know more? Simply scan the QR code below or click here.

After you watch the video be sure to have some fun with the Balls Dream Band! Share The Balls Dream Band video with your friends, Paradise Yourself, or share funny messages and photos of The Balls Dream Band.

Sign up for promotional offers here. And then leave a comment letting me know your thoughts about the commercial.

NV Able Items Giveaway - Rustic Wooden Coat Rack W/Hand Forged Hooks

*This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

I love supporting online friends especially those that own small businesses. Well one of my fellow TOS Crew friends needed some help launching her husbands NEW Etsy shop, NV Able Items, so I jumped at the chance! He makes the most beautiful handmade creations and when I saw a photo of his work I immediately fell in love. They are amazing and I think you will agree...especially if you like rustic, old antique looking things like I do!

The Blacksmith

Meet Noah

"I live in Virginia on a small farmish piece of land with my wife and children. We are trying to live completely off this piece of God's creation. So we live here, grow our food here, teach our children here and now work here. The Items we create here are aesthetically pleasing and intentionally useful. A picture is nice but it is even better when it covers a hole in your wall. I enjoy reworking things considered worthless, making them beautiful and useful again!"

~ Noah V.

  NV Able Items

Noah creates all of his beautiful creations by hand, in his shop, located in Southwestern Virginia. Blacksmithing has always been a passion of his. Developing work from discarded materials continue to provide him with new challenges and a sense of adventure.

Whether it's a knife made from an old railroad spike, or a rustic spoon from old rebar, Noah delights in making something beautiful, creative and useful, from old materials!

Custom orders are welcome at NV Able items! If you have a need in mind, Noah is willing to help you design or create whatever you may need. The possibilities are endless!

Coat Rack 

Jewlery Holder

Kitchen Utensial Organizer

Pot and Pan Holder 

 Towel Holder

Custom Made Valentine's Day Gifts

Father's Day Gifts

Click HERE to View Etsy Shop

 or 

To Order A Custom Design

Noah is continuing to develop new items, creations and designs. If you would like to be notified when NEW ITEMS ARE ADDED to his shop, please enter your email below! Emails are only sent out occasionally and your email address will not be sold, traded or used for any other purpose.

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GIVEAWAY TIME!

 In honor of the opening of his new Etsy shop, NV Able Items, Noah is giving away a beautiful coat rack with 3 hand forged hooks and brackets on reclaimed wood from a rustic Virginian barn. 

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MIRA Glass Digital Kitchen (And Homeschool Room) Scale Review

*This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details. Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

MIRA Brands Inc is a California based company that provides numerous lifestyle products including bathroom scales, kitchen scales, luggage scales as well as stainless steel lunch containers. Their goal is to make great looking yet functional products for home and personal use.

A moms review:
We received a MIRA Glass Digital Kitchen Scale to review and utilized it in both our kitchen and homeschool room. The scale has an 11 lb capacity so it is perfect for just about any project. Its terrific small, slim size makes it easy to deploy at just the right moment, without taking up too much work space. It looks great displayed on the counter or it can easily be stored in a cabinet, drawer or shelf. The scale is about the size of a tablet so it is very portable and light enough to move from counter to counter or from room to room. The small rubberized feet on all four corners provide a secure resting grip on any surface. The scale comes with a 2 year warranty and uses 4 x AAA batteries (included)!

It has a stylish design that is very modern yet basic enough to fit with any kitchen decor. The extra large, backlit LCD display provides clearly defined units of measure in bright bold numbers (no squinting required). There are two easy to access bio-static, sensitive touch buttons to either side of the display which are clearly labeled. One of the buttons will turn the scale on/off and enable the tare feature. The other button will let you select your unit of measurement. The scale provides measurements in pounds, kilograms, grams, and ounces (lb./oz, kg/g, fl.oz., ml). The buttons also function great with flour coated fingers and wet hands. Clean up is a breeze. The tempered glass surface looks great and provides a sanitary, easy to clean surface. The glass is 4 times stronger than normal glass. We received a brown scale but the scale is also available in black, red, blue, white and grey.

The scale was terrific in the kitchen made measuring out meat to freeze, recipe ingredients and more a breeze. And as I mentioned above we not only utilized the MIRA Scale in the kitchen but also our homeschool room too for some math and science fun. Yes my children were a little excited about the scale when it arrived (they thought it was a tablet at first). It was very easy for the kids to use (ages 6 and 8).  The tare function allowed accurate measurements to be made during the most ambitious of science experiments. While the choice of units allowed for smaller more precise readings. The kids learned a new science term - TARE! The tare function allows the scale to ignore the weight of plates and dishes, only weighing the contents inside! And they also learned some new units of measurement too. They had lots of fun exploring and playing with the scale and it has become a part of our homeschool science and math lessons!

Links to follow:

- Website
- Facebook 
- Twitter 

Where to buy:
You can purchase the MIRA Glass Digital Kitchen Scale (choice of color) on Amazon for $22.95 currently!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

100 Days Of A New Year eBook Discount Code and Giveaway

*This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I am sure you have made your goals and resolutions already and hopefully are putting them into place. I choose a word to focus on for 2014 - PERSEVERING! I want to persevere in homeschool, household, blogging and health!

Well if you are anything like me you need all the HELP you can get with sticking to goals, resolutions. A new year means a fresh start! A chance to grow! That is where this fabulous eBook 100 Days Of A New Year can help. This eBooks starts today January 1st and walks you day-by-day, step-by-step through the first 100 days of 2014...it ends on April 10th. But the beautiful thing about this eBook is it can be used an implemented at any time really because it is packed with tips, printables, activities and reminders that will help you throughout the year.

This eBook will definitely help me persevere in my 4 areas and I know it can help you too.

The PDF eBook is just $8 however until January 15th you can get 100 Days of a New Year 2014 for only $5 with the coupon code: 100DAYS3OFF.

This eBook is a complete guide which will inspire and motivate you. There is a workbook with over 75 printable lists from ListPlanIt.com and much more. The motivational tasks, activities or events each day only take about 15-20 minutes to implement so you don't get overwhelmed or frustrated.

Here are some highlights of what you’ll find in the 2014 version of 100 Days of a New Year eBook:

• January: Setting goals for every area of your life. This eBook breaks them down so you can concentrate on each area.
• February: Finances.  Post-holidays, bank accounts have seen better days.  This eBook helps you look deeply at your finances and realistically at your budget.
• March: Home.  With the warmer weather comes an urge to feather the nest.  But where to start?  This eBook will walk you through the rooms of your house and have you look at it through fresh eyes.  
• April: Garden. Planning a garden starts now. Growing a garden is a healthy act, both financially and nutritionally. This eBook guides you as you dig in.
• Holidays: There are several holidays to prepare for in the first 100 Days of the New Year.  This eBook reminds you and helps you prepare for each one.

If you want to see for yourself how awesome this eBook is read an excerpt here. It is guaranteed to make you more productive.

Now time for the giveaway: 
ListPlanIt has graciously offered to giveaway a 2 eBooks (PDF format) to 2 lucky readers. Winner will be e-mailed a download code for the eBook. Only the first entry is mandatory. Other entries are optional and give you extra chances. This giveaway is not affiliated with Facebook in any way. The winner will be posted on the blog and will be emailed. Winner must reply within 24 hrs with their contact information or another winner will be chosen. Open to US only! Prize will be mailed via the company.

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Persevering In 2014

*This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Made with Tagxedo.

My word for 2014 is PERSEVERE! Persevere means, "to continue doing something or trying to do something even though it is difficult." I think many homeschool moms will agree with me that being a stay at home/homeschool mom is not an EASY job. Add in life stresses like a job, financial strains and health issues and it can make our job even harder.

So this year I will be focusing on PERSEVERING in these areas homeschool, blogging/social media work and household chores.

Perseverance is a special character trait because you can only use it when things are difficult. It is a character trait that ordinary people depend on just about everyday at work, home and play. Perseverance keeps us pressing on even when tough circumstances come our way. As mother's (especially homeschool mothers's) we definitely persevere everyday and it is our job as mother's to help our children persevere too. We as mother's need to hold our children's course steady and encourage them to use this valuable character quality. But perseverance cannot be taught. Instead we must set the example for our children. We must show them how we persevere through our own struggles and weakness and persevere along side them.

Here is how I am persevering and hopefully helping my children persevere as well in 2014!

Homeschool:
I firmly believe in our delight-directed/unschooling learning style but it can be really hard some days to trust that we have made the right choice. There were times this year I was second guessing our choices, comparing our homeschool to others and ready to throw in the towel on homeschool all together. In the New Year I will persevere and remember the reasons we chose to homeschool. I will remember that we want our children to have a love for learning and to follow their interests and dreams...NOT fit into a mold or box. I will NOT let the words of other break me down and second guess what we decided was right for our children and our family.

No man should bring children into the world who is unwilling to persevere to the end in their nature and education. ~ Plato

I will help my children learn how to persevere when they are tackling something tough and getting frustrated by showing them how I persevere and by letting them know it is okay to fail and make mistakes. I will show them that patience goes hand in hand with perseverance.

Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th. ~ Julie Andrews

I will let them pursue topics that are meaningful to them. I will let them set their own goals and be there to support them and help them work through any difficulties that arise. I will provide all of the resources and environment they need to persevere. I will guide them on the choices they make so that they can find perseverance on their own. I will NEVER compare them to other children and will let pave their own path.

Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish. ~ John Quincy Adams

Blogging and Social Media Work:
There were several times this year when I was ready to give up on blogging and social media. It is very time consuming and hard work. It takes time away from other things I love doing like scrapbooking and hiking. And sometimes it even takes time away from my family.

When the world says, "Give up," Hope whispers, "Try it one more time." ~Author Unknown

When I started blogging it was a fun way to document our homeschool journey and I hoped that along the way it would help a few fellow homeschoolers. But over the last 2 years it has become more than that and my tiny blog has grown more than I ever imagined it would. Blogging has allowed me to supplement our income and provide for our family. It has become a way for me to help fellow homeschoolers on their homeschool journey through valuable insight and resources. And it has allowed me to meet some really awesome people across the country and even the world who have become both "in real life" and virtual friends.

Persist and persevere, and you will find most things that are attainable, possible. ~ Lord Chesterfield

I showed perseverance this year (with the support from my family) and will continue to press on in 2014. I will get more organized and stay caught up on projects and reviews. I will lighten up some of my commitments and focus my attention on my passions. I will utilize more of the valuable tools available to bloggers like scheduling apps.

Try not to do too many things at once. Know what you want, the number one thing today and tomorrow. Persevere and get it done. ~ George Allen Sr

And in turn I will show my children through my own perseverance that hard work and persistence is possible in everything we do, even blogging. And that making sacrifices for my family makes all the hard work totally worth it!

I am a slow walker, but I never walk back. ~ Abraham Lincoln

Household Chores:

I think this is one everyone can relate too. You clean the house or even just a room only to turn around and find a mess again. Children are like mini tornadoes. They make messes and destroy just about every thing in their path. 

Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did. ~ Newt Gingrich

But with a little perseverance and teamwork household cleaning and organizing won't be difficult and exhausting. Be sure to read my New Year Cleaning Tips post too! In 2014 I will persevere in household chores by not being afraid to ask for HELP around the house even when I think I don't need it!

It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer.  ~ Albert Einstein

I will ask EVERYONE to get involved, even the children, in cleaning and organizing. If children help to clean up messes, fold the laundry, wash the dishes, etc they will learn valuable life skills, perseverance, patience, time management and the value of helping others. It is up to you whether or not you offer incentives (we reward with $1 allowance each week) but either way children need to understand that as a family it is everyone's responsibility to clean up and help out around the house not just mom's. I have even had my children help with breakfast, lunches and dinner and they are only 6 and 7 years old. And did you know that learning to do tasks, helping out around the house, and being relied on by others in their family can help build self confidence and self esteem in children?

What ever you do, do it well. Do it so well that when people see you do it they will want to come back and see you do it again and they will want to bring others and show them how well you do what you do.” ~ Walt Disney

Health:

As I was writing this post I thought of one more area I will show perseverance in for 2014 and that is my health. Some of you may know about my health struggles this year, which started a little over 4 years ago. Over the last 4 years I have seen countless doctors, had numerous procedures and accrued hefty doctor bills (some which are still unpaid). But a few months ago I had enough. I refused to become the medicated zombie that the doctors said I needed to become due to a garbage can diagnosis of fibromyalgia. I refused to continue living in pain, sleeping all day and pushing my family away. 

Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacle's, discouragement's, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak. ~ Thomas Carlyle

So I researched and researched and low and behold I found a great Chiropractor who was willing to help me heal my damaged body. Turns out I have metabolic issues, food allergies, a twisted atlas (small bone at the top of your spine on which you 12 lb skull sits) and an injured shoulder. What caused these issues is uncertain. It may have been the mold exposure from our house (that we left in 2009), my intestinal surgery (to correct the malroation of my small intestine in 2000), hormone changes from having children and/or the bad fall I had a couple years ago while ice skating. Or perhaps it was a compilation of all the above. But whatever the cause may be I am happy to report that I am healing. It has been a slow process and it will continue well into 2014. After all it took years to get this sick. But thanks to a caring doctor Cliff Griffin, gentle manipulations, amazing supplements, exercise and a restrictive diet I will continue to persevere in my health in 2014 and continue my road to recovery.

I can do everything by the power of Christ. He gives me strength Philippians 4:13 NIrV

Also be sure to head over to Schoolhouse Review Crew Blog to read about more words for 2014 from the TOS Crew.

Also in case you are interested here are my top 5 posts for 2013.

1) FreeBEE Friday - Wonders of Creation *

2) FreeBEE Friday - Subtraction Concept Based Download *

3) FreeBEE Friday - Lego Learning Resources

4) FreeBEE Friday - Be My Valentine Lapbook *

5) FreeBEE Friday - 2 Limited Time Freebies * 

*Please note many of the freebies above were limited time freebies and may no longer be available.

Our family wishes you a happy New Year! May all your hopes and dreams come true and your perseverance pay off in 2014!



Linking up with: List It Tuesday

Marvelous Cleaning Tips For The New Year

This New Year cleaning resolution tips post is brought to you by Mr. Clean as part of a Type-A Parent Community Sponsored Post.

Made with Tagxedo.

I am a stay at home, homeschool mom. That means that my two kids are pretty much always home (well expect for when we are out on a fun adventure) making messes. And boy can they make messes, they are like little tornado's. I am also a wife, blogger and social media manager so when I am not helping the kids learn I am busy working or spending time with my husband. After tending to the kids, my husband and work there is little time left for household chores.

I am always looking for ways to streamline cleaning, organization and meal times. And since the New Year is right around the corner it is a great time to make those cleaning resolutions.

Here are some of my MARVELOUS cleaning tips:
All of these tips help make cleaning go more smoothly in our house and help free up time for me and the rest of the family. With these tips implemented cleaning is no longer dreaded and mundane.

Make cleaning easier in 2014 by.....

1) Getting the ENTIRE family (including the kids) involved in cleaning and organizing. This is my number one tip for a reason! With a little perseverance and teamwork household cleaning and organizing will no longer be difficult and exhausting. Don't be afraid to ask for HELP around the house even when you don't think you need it. Start children out at a young age. Even a 1 or 2 year old can help out by picking up toys and dusting. Letting children help to clean up messes, fold the laundry, wash the dishes, etc will teach them valuable life skills, perseverance, patience, time management and the value of helping others. Children need to understand that as a family it is everyone's responsibility to clean up and help out around the house not just mom's. I have even had my children help with breakfast, lunches and dinner and they are only 6 and 7 year's old. Also did you know that learning to do tasks, helping out around the house, and being relied on by others in their family can help build self confidence and self esteem in children?

If you need some ideas on what kinds of chores your children can help out with be sure to check out my Top 10 Kids Chores post.

2) Utilizing the one minute rule. If there is something that needs to be done and takes less than one minute to do, do it immediately rather than waiting until later. Doing a small task right away will help alleviate more work later. A few toys and books or a little spill on the floor only take one minute to clean up!

3) Breaking up chores throughout the week and taking a little time each day (even if it is just 10 minutes) to clean and tidy up. Perhaps you focus on one task (like laundry) or one room a day. Anyway you choose to do it you will save yourself from having to take an entire day (or two) to tackle all of the chores at once.

4) Making chores fun...yes I totally just said chores and fun in the same sentence. This is especially important for children. Listen to music or turn cleaning up into a game. Heck even dress up as the cleaning bandit.

5) Making sure you have helpful all purpose cleaning products like Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle gel that helps get rid of tough dirt with one swipe and very little muscle. Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle can be used on all surfaces porous and non-porous and provides 2.5x more power than regular all-purpose cleaners. It doesn't contain phosphates, chlorine, bleach or ammonia so it's great for people like me with sensitive skin. And it's perfect for both household and commercial use. Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle not only gets your counters, floors, toilets, stoves and tables sparkling clean but it also leaves them smelling good too. This awesome product is around $5 and comes in lemon scent, Febreze meadows and rain scent, Gain original fresh scent and lavender scent with the grease fighting power of Dawn. The Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle bottles come with a unique dosing cap to make sure there is no waste. You can dilute Liquid Muscle in water or apply it directly to a sponge or surface. This cleaner really packs a punch and penetrates dirt and grime like no other.

Here are a couple photos showing how well it worked on our foyer hardwood floor, a floor that sees the most traffic in our home. And my children's filthy toilet (little boys really are kind of nasty). And the kitchen linoleum.

Make sure you not only have great cleaning products but also the right cleaning tools (make sure some are child sized). Stock up on Magic Erasers (perfect for kids), sponges, spray bottles, brooms (adult and child size), mops (adult and child size) , feather dusters and dust pans. I have found that Dollar Tree has a great selection of child sized cleaning tools including brooms, mops, dust pans, feather dusters and spray bottles. For children be sure to also use safe cleaning products like vinegar, baking soda, and plain water in spray bottles so there is no need to worry about them coming in contact with harsh chemicals. These inexpensive household products work great for cleaning walls, mirrors and windows. Which are all simple chores for children to help with.

6) Purging clothes, shoes, toys, household items etc. every couple of months (or quarterly).  If you purchase something new be sure to donate an old item. Decluttering can really help make cleaning and organizing much easier in the long haul.

7) Making organizing simple, even for kids. Use storage drawers, plastic shoe boxes and canvas bins for organizing toys and other materials. Label drawers, boxes and bins so everyone knows exactly where to find things and put things back!

And if you are still dreading cleaning in the New Year and need a little laugh to get you started here you go:

I thought it would be fun to ask my Facebook Followers their best tips too and here they are: 

• The rule of 3 (or 4, or 5, or 6 whatever) works wonders. Pick a number and whenever you enter a room you put that many things away or throw them away , and before you leave the room you take 3 things with. Going around the whole house for a few hours this way will get it clean, but it also helps maintain clutter if you do it as part of your normal routine. KM from kmlogan.com
• Make it a part of your routine. 15 mins in the morning and 15 mins at night will get a lot done over time and you won't be overwhelmed. Set a timer and clean for that amount of time and when it beeps, you're done. It's amazing what all you can do! Stephanie from burbstoboonies.blogspot.com
• I combined two things people hate...exercise and bathroom cleaning. Maybe for laughs. Stacey from layeredsoul.com/bathroom-exercises-to.../2013/05/
• My best cleaning tips: 1. Use music to give you energy and make it less boring 2. Always tidy up for 10 minutes (set the timer on your phone!) before you go to bed so you can wake up without feeling overwhelmed by the mess 3. Have a nice basket in every room for easy toy clean up 4. The more organized a home is, the easier it is to keep clean so go room by room in January and get rid of junk, create systems, etc. Alisha from thesavvybump.com
• I keep a 3 gallon pail in my laundry room with a scoop of oxyclean and filled with water. Clothes that need pretreating go straight into the pail to keep stains from setting - and even a small child can put their soiled clothes in it. Also, a sponge/soap wand filled with a squirt of dishsoap and the rest white vinegar makes a great day to day tub cleaner and is easy to give the shower a quick scrub while/after showering. Adrienne from abiglittlefamily.com
• I have a laundry basket that I carry around with me when I clean. Anything I find that isn't where it belongs goes into the basket for the owner to claim and put away. Saves me a lot of time running around. Chrissey A.
• I periodically pour boiling water and baking soda down my drains. It keeps them running fresh and clean, you can add vinegar too. Lilith D.
• For the ceilings, walls and corners, I have a small spray bottle with water and peppermint. I spray my fluffy duster that has an extender pole and duster all the hard to reach areas where spiders tend to go. They do not like peppermint and it keeps them spider and web free for months. I also wipe down my window and door frames and sills with the peppermint to discourage them from coming in. Lisa from thehappyclownwithafrown.blogspot.com/
• I try to spread out my laundry during the week by doing at least 2-3 loads a day. Not only does it keep me from getting overwhelmed, it helps me plan days when I can't/don't want to do laundry (i.e. hubby's days off - Sunday). I also *try* to deep clean one room/area a day so I don't spend one entire day cleaning & getting exhausted. Annette from www.inallyoudo.net/
• Have the kids help by cleaning up their areas. Also I read once that it's best to tackle the hardest & most disliked task first and get it out of the way. Melissa D.
• Everything has its place! We use small containers to organize in the bathroom. Taralyn from keepmovingforwardwithme.com/2013/04/day-2-bathroom-organization/
• I hate to clean the shower/tub so I like to get it done quickly. I keep a magic eraser in there and do a quick swipe on the walls and tub a few times a week while I'm in the shower. No need for deep scrubbing when you give it a quick swipe a few times a week! thesunnypatch.blog/
• Save money use vinegar\water and essential oils (for scent) to clean. I use it for all my cleaning. Sarah H.
• The boys pick out their chores at the beginning of each week and they are responsible for them. It helps a ton. Dayna from lemonlimeadventures.com/
• Having a schedule for cleaning really helps me do a little bit every day and not get overwhelmed - but I also thinking having kids involved with chores from an early age is helpful. At 2 it is already habit to bus their dishes, put away their laundry, help with groceries, etc. We did one post about watering plants. Erin from bambinitravel.com/Pages/Activities/activityitem.php?id=35

Have a great and clean New Year!

This is a compensated post brought to you by Mr. Clean. Mr. Clean is kicking off the New Year with the launch of a new product called Mr. Clean Liquid Muscle, a new multi-purpose, multi-surface concentrated cleaning gel that delivers superior cleaning performance on and off the floor. Be sure to like Mr. Clean on Facebook and follow @RealMrClean on Twitter.

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