Clean Mama

Park + Stroller Kit – Summer Fun-o-Rama

Becky — Thu, 23 May 2013 11:00:03 +0000

This week is all about coming up with some great ideas for a fun summer. Want to enter the Summer Fun-o-Rama contest? Go to this post to see how to create your own pinboards full of summer inspiration (and two chances to win some great prizes)!

The first kit I always put together before summer is a park and stroller kit. I keep it in the mudroom so it’s easy to grab and go for a quick evening walk or trip to the park. This is a simple concept and you probably have most of these items in your home already, but taking a couple minutes to organize the items in one place will be a time saver this summer.

Collect what you have at home or purchase items that you and your family might need for a walk or trip to the park or in an emergency – wipes, a hand towel to wipe off slides and swings, wound care, sunscreen, bandages and cotton swabs, and a tote to keep it all in.

Place your essential items in a bag and put it where it’ll be handy and easily accessible – get ready for summer fun-0-rama!

Chalk Kit – Summer Fun-o-Rama

Becky — Wed, 22 May 2013 11:00:45 +0000

This week is all about coming up with some great ideas for a FUN summer. Want to enter the Summer Fun-o-Rama contest? Go to this post to see how to create your own pinboards full of summer inspiration (and two chances to win some great prizes)!

Taking a couple minutes to organize a couple fun kits for the summer goes a long way. No fancy labels needed, just some fun supplies to make the fun a little easier to orchestrate. Today’s kit is brought to you by the no fuss-no muss department here at Clean Mama. No gathering of separate chalk containers – just find a handled container, toss in some sidewalk chalk and you’re all set.

Gather your supplies. I grabbed this sandcastle bucket in the dollar section at Target (for a dollar), the chalk is also from Target.

Toss it all together – no sorting or organizing necessary. Chalk away!

S’mores Kit – Summer Fun-o-Rama

Becky — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:00:23 +0000

Today’s post is a quick kit that you can throw together and store in your pantry for an impromptu summer bonfire, over the grill, or if you’re desperate, in the microwave. This s’mores kit would be great to bring as a little summer party hostess gift too.

The ingredients (add or subtract your favorites) – you’ll need the basics (graham crackers, chocolate bars, marshmallows).

Put the ingredients in a bin or container – I’m using a bin that I can re-purpose in the pantry after s’mores season is over.

Where will I store this kit? In the pantry – at the ready for some s’more fun!

What are your favorite s’mores ingredients? Any additions?

Clean Mama’s Summer Pinning Party with Prizes

Becky — Mon, 20 May 2013 02:04:44 +0000

Summer is ALMOST here – I can’t wait. Flip-flops, grilling, and sidewalk chalk are back in rotation as we celebrate the warmer weather. School’s almost out, simpler schedules are ahead, let’s make it a great summer!

In honor of the almost arrival of summer, I am hosting a Pinterest party here on the blog and on Pinterest – actually it’s two contests. For the next two weeks on the blog I’ll be featuring some favorite pins, some ideas for a great summer and some ideas for making things a little easier. My goal is to encourage you to collect all the random ideas floating around in your brain and on the internet on to one Pinterest board so that you can easily access all of the fun projects and ideas that revolve around spring and summer. I hope the pinboard(s) will be a great resource to you this summer – you could even delete the pins as you implement or do them, like a digital summer bucket list.

There will be two contests running simultaneously and you are welcome to enter one or both. The first contest is “Summer Fun-O-Rama” and can focus on activities you want to do with your children, family or just you! I will be pinning right alongside you, so feel free to check out my “Summer Fun-O-Rama” and “Easy Breezy Summer” boards.

The second contest is “Easy Breezy Summer” and revolves around whatever spring and summer projects, activities, organization or shortcuts that pique your interest – it could be grilling, garage organization, vacation planning or anything that sounds easy, breezy and summer-y to you.

Because a contest is always more fun with prizes, there will be two winners randomly chosen, one for each board. Each winner will receive a few of my favorite things – a Mrs. Meyers Kitchen Kitchen Basics Set (your choice of scent), a $25 Target gift card and a Clean Mama Printables 2013 Clean + Organized Lifestyle Kit, valued at $65 (total value of each prize pack is $99.95). This contest is sponsored by me – Target and Mrs. Meyer’s have no idea who I am. Clean Mama Printables? Yeah, that’s me.

Be sure to check out the details below to ensure you get the specifics. You are welcome to enter one or both contests to up your odds. Winners will be chosen randomly, but will be double checked to make sure that the rules were followed.

Good luck- I hope you win!

Here are the quick links and directions:

1. FOLLOW Clean Mama on Pinterest.

2. CREATE a Pinterest board titled “Summer Fun-o-Rama” and/or “Easy Breezy” and pin the above images (the ones that say ‘pin this picture…’) to it.

3. Pin your 5 favorite family or kid-inspired picks from Clean Mama blog OR Clean Mama Printables.

4. Add your favorite FAMILY and KID-inspired ideas on to your Summer Fun-o-Rama board and/or your Easy Breezy Summer ideas to your Easy Breezy Summer board.

5. Visit my Summer Fun-o-Rama and Easy Breezy Summer pinboards and leave a comment on the cover picture by May 31st with a link to your board so myself and others can check it out (THIS IS YOUR ONLY ENTRY – DON’T LEAVE IT OUT!)

6. Check back on June 3rd to see if you’ve won! Winners will be posted here on the blog.

The Germiest Places In Your Kitchen + How to Clean Them {Part 2}

Becky — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:00:48 +0000

Earlier this week, we confronted the germiest bad boy of the kitchen: the refrigerator and freezer. Today we are going to take a closer look at some of the other bacteria hotspots in the typical kitchen and give you some simple tips to rid yourself of these potential dangers in your home. Before arming yourself with your cleaning tools and biohazard gear, rest assured that none of these revelations and tips will take more than a couple minutes to remedy.

So, any guesses as to what are some of the other top ranking offenders of E. Coli, mold, yeast and bacteria in the average kitchen? If you are thinking of placing your blame on your sink, microwave or other frequently touched appliances, think again.

(I’m starting at number 5 because this is part 2 of a two part series – Part 1 and numbers 1-4 are here.)

5. The Blender

With the popularity of smoothie making on the rise, the blender gasket is a high risk offenders in the kitchen. Many people put the entire blender pitcher in the dishwasher in one piece rather that taking it apart. Salmonella, E.coli, yeast and mold were all found on blender gaskets, which make it all the more important to take the time to disassemble before cleaning. One easy tip that helps to dislodge the stubborn bits that cling to the interior of your pitcher is to put a cup or two of warm water and several drops of dish soap in the pitcher and run for a couple seconds. After this step, take your entire pitcher apart and either hand wash or load it in your dishwasher. Problem solved.

6. The Can Opener

Another high risk offender is the can opener. Little bits of food residue have the tendency to cling to the blades of the mechanisms and are the perfect breeding ground for mold, salmonella, E. coli and yeast if not properly cleaned. If your can opener is dishwasher safe, simply put it in your dishwasher and run it through a normal cycle. Alternatively, handwash in warm soapy water and allow it dry thoroughly before putting it away.

7. The Rubber Spatula

This one may not come as a big surprise to some, but the ever handy and well loved utensil, the rubber spatula, is another popular hangout for food borne pathogens. Many spatulas come in two pieces, with a wooden or plastic handle and a silicone head. This one is an easy fix as well – simply take the spatula apart and throw it in your dishwasher or hand wash in warm soapy water. Alternatively, you can invest in handy one piece silicone spatulas that don’t offer the little nook and crannies for the germs to hide.

8. The Rubber Seal on Plastic Food Containers

image via

Fans of leftovers and pantry storage containers may want to take note of this next one. The rubber gasket that seals some brands of plastic food containers is also a favorite hiding place for food borne pathogens. Not to worry as this one is a cinch to solve. Much like the blender gasket, simply remove the rubber gasket from your food container before washing and either throw it in the dishwasher or hand wash with warm soapy water.

9. The Knife Block

The last offender in our kitchen was a bit of surprise to me as I had never really taken much thought to it: the knife block. Mold and yeast thrive in dark, damp environments and love the close quarters for breeding in the typical knife block. To rid yourself of these unwanted guests, tip your knife block upside down and shake out any crumbs or debris that may have snuck inside. Lastly, wash the entire knife block in warm soapy water using a bottle brush or something similar to get inside each compartment. Make sure to let the block dry thoroughly before putting your knives back in- it will dry faster if you set it outside and let the sun do the work for you. Be sure to do this task quickly and don’t soak the block as you don’t want warping or unnecessary dry time on your hands.

(germiest places information via NSF website)

The Germiest Places in Your Kitchen + How to Clean Them {Part 1}

Becky — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:00:09 +0000

When you think about the germiest places in your kitchen, what comes to mind first? Cutting boards, sinks and handles topped my guesses and perhaps yours as well. You may be as surprised as I was to learn that none of these even made the list while some unexpected sources did. If the thought of household pathogens like E. Coli, listeria, yeast and mold make your skin crawl, rest assured that eliminating these suspects is easy, takes only minutes and involves no toxic cleaners, chemicals or a haz-mat suit.

Today we will be focusing on the appliance that has earned the dubious prestige of having not one, but FOUR of the most bacteria laden spots in the kitchen – the refrigerator and freezer. Friday, I’ll share the other areas in your kitchen that could use a little attention as we work together to give bacteria and other unhealthy little buggers the boot. Food borne illnesses caused by E.coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and mold and yeast are common yet thankfully preventable. Let’s focus on that today while we take some time to rid our kitchen of these pests.

My favorite refrigerator and freezer cleaning tools? Warm water, dish soap, and a clean dish rag.

1. Ice Dispenser:

The ice dispenser is also a favorite hang-out for yeast and mold. For this one, empty out all the ice and wipe down the interior of the dispenser with mild detergent or dish soap and warm water and follow it up by wiping it down with a clean damp cloth to remove any soap residue.

2. Refrigerator Meat Drawer:

While this is probably not surprising, the meat and cheese drawer in your fridge also ranks in the top germiest places in your kitchen. Remove it, wash with warm water and a mild dish soap and put it back when it’s completely dry. If you can’t remove the drawer, wash with your soapy cloth and wipe clean. (If you’re anything like me, you might need to empty and wipe out the entire refrigerator if you’ve gotten this far.)

3. Refrigerator Produce Drawer:

To clean your produce drawer, follow the same procedure as cleaning your meat drawer. Remove it from your fridge if possible and wash with warm water and a mild dish soap. To control odors, use a solution of baking soda and warm water: one or two tablespoons soda per quart of water. Rinse thoroughly and let it dry completely before putting it back.

4. Water Dispenser:

This one may surprise you as it is one of those spots you may not hit when you clean your kitchen. The spout especially on the water dispenser is a great host for mold and yeast. To clean the spout, you could use a small (clean) scrub brush dipped in vinegar and take care to clean both the interior and exterior of the spout. I used a clean dish cloth dipped in vinegar and wiped the spout first and then rest of the dispenser. After cleaning, run the water for a bit to get rid of any excess vinegar residue.

I’ll be back Friday with 5 more of the germiest places in your kitchen. Have a few extra minutes today? Do a little clean-up on your refrigerator and freezer!

(germiest places information via NSF website)

Cleaning the Grill with Bounty DuraTowel

Becky — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:00:38 +0000

*Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Bounty DuraTowel as part of a compensated partnership. All opinions are my own.

I’ve been using Bounty DuraTowels around my home for a couple months. I love how durable they are and thought it would be fun to put the Bounty DuraTowel to the test to clean the grill.

I started by spraying down the grill with an all-purpose, food-safe degreaser and let it sit for a few minutes.

This part is what was amazing to me – I wiped down the entire grill with the Bounty DuraTowel (I only used 2 towels – they are attached so they were both used to clean the whole grill simultaneously). Then just to really test its durability, I rinsed it out. The grease and dirt rinsed away and instead of leaving a tattered paper towel, a clean DuraTowel remained. Pretty neat (and clean)!

FREE PRINTABLE – Medical Exam Tracker

Becky — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:00:32 +0000

Please tell me I’m not the only that needs a little help in the exam-remembering realm. I added a new kit in the shop this weekend and today I’m sharing a great printable that you can add to the kit or use separately. The Medical Exam Tracker is meant to be a place to keep track of all your family’s medical exams – eye doctor appointments, pediatricians, specialists, dermatologists….all in one place.

You can go here to grab your free printable!

THE MEDICAL KIT includes 7 documents in an attractive aqua, lime, and gray color scheme:

MEDICAL INFORMATION TRACKER
ILLNESS TRACKER
HEALTH OVERVIEW FOR THE YEAR
THERAPY TRACKER
INSURANCE TRACKER
PRESCRIPTION TRACKER
TWO WEEK FOOD JOURNAL

Go here to check out The Medical Kit in my shop

DIY Homemade Cleaner Series Round-up

Becky — Sat, 11 May 2013 11:00:36 +0000

I’ve been sharing my favorite recipes for some DIY cleaners with you over the past month. Being the visual person that I am, I thought a round-up style post highlighting each post might be helpful if a reader stumbles upon this series.

Now that the series is over, are there any DIY cleaners you’d like me to research and concoct a homemade cleaning recipe for? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

DIY Homemade Cleaners: All-Purpose Scrub

Becky — Fri, 10 May 2013 11:00:27 +0000

Making your own cleaners can be fun and economical. This series is all about must-have ingredients, recipes {free printable}, labels {free printable}, and how to make homemade cleaners. Today is the last recipe in my DIY Homemade Cleaners Series – I hope you’ve snagged a couple new ideas for a little do-it-yourself cleaning fun.

The All-Purpose Scrub is easy – just grab your carpet freshener (it’s just baking soda and essential oils) sprinkle it where you need a little extra cleaning power – sinks, pots and pans, stove top….

Add a little bit of your favorite dishsoap and a little water.

Scrub-a-dub

So easy – just sprinkle, add soap, scrub, rinse clean!

What’s your favorite DIY cleaner recipe? I’ll be back tomorrow with a little round-up post of the series.

Follow my Pinterest board for lots of cleaning tips and more DIY recipes!

Click here to see all the posts in this series.