Seems like this last year for me has been one of learning. I’ve been having so much fun googling things I don’t know much about and finding answers to all my questions. From researching raw foods and recipes that are healthy, to how to grow plants from plant cuttings, to making my own sunblock and cleaning products, to how essential oils help us, to raw vs. processed honey. Its been fun to learn so much and sort through a plethora of information out there. I so love the internet!
Since we have lived in our Payson home there are a few things that for 3.5 years now have just BUGGED me. Things that I have tried countless times to get rid of – but with no success. I’m happy to say that two of those things have now successfully been checked off my to do list.
Pet Peeve #1 – my downstairs windows:
I’m not sure WHAT caused my windows to look like this – but ever since we moved into our house in Nov 2008 these windows have looked dirty. CAKED with hard water spots that seemed impossible to get rid of. I’ve actually googled several times how to get rid of these spots and although some products (like vinegar) HELPED – nothing really got rid of them and they have just always looked filthy dirty.
Pet Peeve #2 – Rings in my Toilets:
We try to clean our bathrooms every Saturday (and sometimes more often if we have people coming over) – but one of the things that have bugged me about our toilets since moving into this house is that they have rings in the toilets. Hard water stains that no matter how much srcubbing I do with soft scrub, or toilet bowl cleaner – don’t come out. I’ve tried a variety of different products – and again never had much success – but as of this last month I have happy to say that BOTH pet peeves have been cured!!!
The magic product??? No other than the Pumie Scouring stone. I little $2 stick like thing that is like little bits of sand packed into a stone. Its an absolutely AMAZING product that has brought me so much joy! I have used it on my toilets, my sinks, my tubs – and it completely disintegrates any hard water stains! I love it. You technically aren’t supposed to use them on windows or glass -but I tried it out in a corner of my downstairs window and it completely took the hard water spots away! Yes, it did leave teeny tiny little scratches on my windows – but seriously you couldn’t see through my windows before so to me its a HUGE improvement and I’ll take a few tiny scratches any day over filthy dirty looking windows! Check out the difference!
Windows BEFORE Pumie Stone
Yuck! And this is AFTER trying all the other products!
AFTER Pumie Stone. Isn’t the difference Amazing! So happy!
Rings around the toilet BEFORE
Rings around the toilet GONEZO! Thanks Pumie Stone!
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Another little trick I’ve found when cleaning is SOS pads. LOVE those things. I discovered them one week when we were vacationing at our condo and burned something we were cooking. We have to do the dishes in the condo before checking out – and luckily the condo provided SOS pads under the sink. I tried it out on the burnt pot and it was incredible! How had I not bought these things before?
A few weeks later I came home from the grocery store with a box of pads and set to work on all my old pots and pans to try to clean off the dark spots that had developed over the years from continuous use. Wow! I wish I would have taken a picture of everything because the before and afters were amazing. Especially on my cookie sheets. They looked almost brand new when I was finished with them. They took a LOT of elbow grease – but it was so worth it.
So anyway, Its been fun to conquer some of my cleaning mayhem – and to learn about some new products that are awesome. What are some of your favorite cleaning tips and tricks?