Hinton Cleaning Tips

Top 3 Cleaning Tips When Your Taxes Are Done

2012-04-15T13:29:00.000-07:00

Traditionally, today would have been the deadline for filing last year's tax return. However, since April 15th falls on Sunday this year, we get two additional days. Hopefully you've done your taxes or had them professionally prepared by now. If not, you only have until the day after tomorrow. Some post offices may be open late so that those who truly have waited until the last minute can still get their return postmarked and not have to file an extension.

Don't you wish housecleaning was like taxes? You have all year to prepare for it, then the deadline approaches and if you're still not ready, you can just file an extension. Well unfortunately, when it comes to cleaning house, it's not done until it's done. And if you continue putting it off (i.e. filing extensions), it only gets worse. While you won't have any penalties or interest, things will pile up, overwhelm you and get out of control.

Here are three things to do after your taxes are done:

File It
Since tax returns should be kept for a while, it's a good idea to keep them organized and protected. File a copy of your completed tax return along with all paperwork in a fire safe container in a cool dry area.

Save It
If you prepared your tax return electronically, be sure to save it in an accessible format on a CD or backup media instead of your computer's hard drive. You may also want to consider saving other important files/documents as well. This will secure your important documents if something happens to your computer.

Shred It
Periodically shred old bank statements, bills and other papers that contain your personal information. This can protect you from identity theft as well as ensure you have adequate space to keep your current important documents.

For more cleaning tips, purchase your copy of R U Looking? 31 Things To Look For When Cleaning Your Home today!

Spring Is Almost Here

2012-02-26T15:34:00.002-08:00

It's almost spring and as the season changes, you smile as you hear the birds singing and enjoy longer days. As you look around your home inside and out, there are so many things you want to do or need to do. Where do you start?

If you start inside your home, R U Looking? recommends that you start by decluttering your home room by room. Having too much stuff in your home makes it difficult to find things and it also makes it harder to clean. It can hinder movement throughout your home and it prevents you from seeing the corners in your home. Spring is the perfect time to go through your home and discard items that may be broken or things you're not using or those things you just don't need anymore. This is also a great time to check and/or change filters especially since pollen and other allergens are in full force.

R U Looking? suggests that if you did your holiday cleaning, you may not have much to do. Some of the "spring cleaning" items include:

Cleaning and/or painting baseboards and checking corners for trash accumulation especially in the kitchen and bathrooms.
Moving and cleaning underneath large furniture and appliances including the stove and refrigerator.
Washing windows and window sills.
Having air ducts professionally cleaned, including the dryer duct.
Stripping the floors and applying a new coat of wax.

R U Looking? has tried and true tips not only for spring cleaning, but for maintaining a clean home at all times. Click here to subscribe to our blog and purchase your copy of RU Looking? today!

Wannie and Lillie

5 Household Cleaning Tips for the Holidays and Beyond

2011-11-29T00:01:00.001-08:00

Can you believe the holiday season is here again? Decorations are everywhere! The malls, local colleges, places of interest in the community and town squares are covered with lights, ornaments and garland. The trimmings along with the holiday music inspires us to decorate our own homes.

R U Looking? 31 Things To Look For When Cleaning Your Home always suggest making your home peaceful and this is especially true during the holidays so you can relax after a long day at work or shopping at the mall. Since this is the perfect time of the year to do your fall cleaning, below are 5 tips to help you get the job done:

Make a "to do" list: List cleaning tasks that need to be done before decorating.
Ask for help: If your list is overwhelming, don't be afraid to ask a friend, family member or a professional organizer for help.
Donate/Sell: Take this opportunity to bless someone with usable items, donate to charity or sell items for extra cash.
Discard: Check all your closets and/or storage areas and discard broken, soiled or unusable items.
Decorate your "halls" to your liking and enjoy the holidays!

Before you deck the halls this holiday season, check out the tried and true tips suggested in R U Looking? 31 Things To Look For When Cleaning Your Home. They will get you through the holidays and beyond. Books are on sale now and they make the perfect stocking stuffer. Get your copy today!

Be blessed,

Wannie and Lillie

A Clean House: It's Not A Top Priority

2011-07-17T18:37:00.000-07:00

We as women (and men too, because a lot of men are at home now) wear many hats and have many roles that we have to fill in life. How we do this sets the tone for our lives and that of our children. If you're wondering, “What does this have to do with cleaning?”, we'll gladly tell you.

We have talked to several women over the last month and the one common theme we heard was, “Oh, housecleaning or keeping a clean house is not a priority.” Some of the comments included: “I don't like cleaning and my kids won't do it, so it won't get done”and “I don't clean because I like spending time with my kids or I don't have time.” In these cases, remember our children are watching us--what are we really teaching them? (It's not a top priority).

Two other comments were, “I work all the time and when I get home I'm just too tired” and “I've been so busy, I haven't swept my kitchen floor in a month.” (It's not a top priority). We even heard “Why should I clean up for other people. They are coming to see me, not my house” and “It wasn't until I moved that I realized how dusty my apartment was because it was so dimly lit.” (It's not a top priority).

If we do a little soul searching, we'll find that when we don't have our priorities in order, it leads to other problems. When we have different emotions going on inside, we have to take the time to work through them, get them out, find the root cause(s) and come up with a solution. Coming home to or getting up to a dirty home can cause some of these emotions. What you're feeling on the inside shows on the outside and because of this, you try to keep it in so people won't see who you really are. Who are you? Are you the one that closes the door behind you hoping no one will see the mess you have inside your home. What's on the inside will soon come to the outside and you will have to deal with it. Let's see the real you!

Everything we do reflects who we are and the way we deal with situations is what really counts. If anything is bothering you, even something as simple as housecleaning, we would like to suggest the following:

Admit that you have a problem.
Write it down.
Talk to someone about it.
Create an action plan.
Put your plan into action.

We think that housecleaning should be a priority and when we begin to do first things first, we'll have time for everything else. It just works out that way. One final comment that we heard is one we do agree with and it is, “Thursday is my cleaning day and I get up early (before work) to start cleaning and do laundry so when I come home on Friday, I have a clean home and I don't have to spend my weekend cleaning.”

R U Looking? has more tried and true tips like this, and if followed you will have a cleaner home and just maybe peace of mind! R U Looking? Are you seeing what's really there?

Wannie and Lillie

Spring Is In The Air

2011-03-31T15:59:00.001-07:00

Spring is in the air! If you live in the south, you've already had a glimpse of the warm weather that's in store for us. As the season changes, you smile as you hear the birds singing and enjoy longer days. As you look around your home inside and out, there are so many things you want to do or need to do. Where do you start?

If you start inside your home, R U Looking? recommends that you start by decluttering your home room by room. Having too much stuff in your home makes it difficult to find things and it also makes it harder to clean. It can hinder movement throughout your home and it prevents you from seeing the corners in your home. Spring is the perfect time to go through your home and discard items that may be broken or things you're not using or those things you just don't need anymore. This is also a great time to check and/or change filters especially since pollen and other allergens are in full force.

R U Looking? suggests that if you cleaned the halls before you decked the halls, you may not have much to do. Some of the "spring cleaning" items include:

Cleaning and/or painting baseboards and checking corners for trash accumulation especially in the kitchen and bathrooms.
Moving and cleaning underneath large furniture and appliances including the stove and refrigerator.
Washing windows and window sills.
Having air ducts professionally cleaned including the dryer duct.
Stripping the floors and applying a new coat of wax.

R U Looking? has tried and true tips not only for spring cleaning, but for maintaining a clean home at all times. Get your copy today!

Wannie and Lillie

It's A New Year - Check Yourself

2011-03-10T22:00:00.000-08:00

Have you heard the words to the song by Jennifer Hudson, “It's a new year and I'm feeling good'? Are you feeling good? Or did you bring the same feelings you had last year into the new year? Are you emotionally and physically tired? Is your mind cluttered? Is your house cluttered? Are you feeling weighed down and just sick and tired of being sicked and tired?

Well it is a new year. In fact, we are well into the first quarter of the new year. It's time to make some changes. In one culture, the natives comb their hair and dress up, put up decorations and clean their homes in preparation for their new year. If you haven't done any of these things you can still do them starting today! Today can be the beginning of your new year as well as the beginning of your new you!

If your mind is cluttered here's a list of things to do:

Get a pen and paper and write down what's on your mind. Be honest and get it all out. Talk to someone and don't be afraid to ask for help.
Make a list of possible solutions for these problems or issues.
Take action and do something about it and clear your mind for the rest of this year and for years to come.

Once your mind is clear, you can get rid of the clutter that is in your home by doing the following:

Look around your home with open eyes so you can see what's really there. Be honest with yourself. If you need help ask for it.
Make a “to do” list of things that will make your house the type of home you want. Include those things that may not be possible right now.
Prioritize your list.
Start at the top of your list and put into action what needs to be done. It may be as simple as organizing your closets or drawers and getting rid of stuff you haven't used in a while.
Once you get started, it will become easier and before you know it, your home will be all that you want it to be.

Make a decision and do something different if you want something different. Remember, your new year can start today! Get your copy of R U Looking? for more cleaning tips for your home.

Wannie and Lillie

6 Ways To Avoid Our Biggest Pet Peeve (Kitchens) 2011

2011-02-18T20:46:00.000-08:00

One of our biggest pet peeves is a dirty kitchen! And if the kitchen ain't clean, the house ain't clean! Many times when cleaning the kitchen, problem areas are sometimes overlooked and buildup in these areas will cause the kitchen to appear what we call "powdery" and the kitchen looks dirty. Listed below are some cleaning techniques for cleaning and sweeping corners, baseboards and floors in the kitchen that we will demonstrate later:

If you have area rugs in the kitchen, we recommend shaking them after cooking to remove any food particles that may have become trapped on or under the rugs.
You can also use an angled broom or a cleaning rag to remove any dirt or food particles from the corners beneath kitchen cabinets.
Since you're already sweeping, this is a good time to swipe the baseboards with the broom as well.
One other thing to remember is to move the stove at least twice per year and sweep and/or mop underneath and behind it.
If you have a pantry or any portable carts in the kitchen, check the floors in and underneath them periodically because dust, dirt and particles tend to settle in these areas when sweeping.
One final thing to do when cleaning the kitchen is stand back and look at everything in detail to make sure you haven't missed anything.

By paying attention to details, you can see things like a spot on the floor, the counter or an appliance. You can just spot clean to add the finishing touch. When it comes to the kitchen, are you seeing what's really there? In order to be sure, get your copy of R U Looking?

Wannie and Lillie

5 Ways To Clean The Halls Before You Deck The Halls

2010-11-10T16:23:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it's that time again? The holiday season - the time of the year that brings on many emotions including joy, anticipation, sadness and even loneliness. There are even times that we're just plain tired and don't want to do anything even though we may have tons of things around the house that need to be done.

R U Looking? always suggest that you make your home a peaceful place that you want to come home to and this is especially true during this time of year so that you can relax after a long day at work or even at the mall.

R U Looking? recommends that this is the perfect time of the year to do your fall cleaning. This will include some underneath cleaning, but if you did some detailed cleaning earlier in the year you won't have to do as much before you deck the halls. Below are 5 tips to help you get the job done:

Check your cleaning schedule to determine what was done in the spring and decide what needs to be done now. Many times we hate to ask for help because we don't want people to know what we are going through or how we're living. Don't be afraid to ask a friend or someone that you know is organized and does certain tasks in their home for help.
Take this opportunity to be a blessing to someone by giving them any usable household items or clothing that you haven't used in a while and discard or donate the rest.
When sorting decorations, check all your closets and/or storage areas and discard any broken items or decorations that you no longer plan to use.
Do your monthly check-ups as needed and check those closed off areas.
Decorate your "halls" to your liking and enjoy the holidays!

Before you deck the halls this holiday season ask yourself - R U Looking? Are You Seeing What's Really There? R U Looking? has tried and true tips that, if followed, will leave you with a cleaner home. Books are on sale now and they make the perfect stocking stuffer. Get your copy today!

Be blessed,

Wannie and Lillie

10 Often Overlooked Areas of Dirt in Our Homes – The Seen and the Unseen

2010-09-10T17:19:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, we have to go the extra mile when cleaning our homes. This simply means those areas that we forget to clean, don't want to clean or thought we did not need to clean may need some extra attention. But don't be alarmed, as stated in R U Looking? these overlooked areas don't have to be cleaned on a daily basis. In fact, some will only have to be cleaned twice a year. But once you do them, they will have a tremendous impact on the appearance of your home. These “dirty” places fall into two categories: The seen and the unseen:

The seen:
1) Clutter
2) Light fixtures, wall hangings and ceiling fans
3) Basements and laundry areas
4) Windows and window sills
5) Corners and baseboards

The unseen:
1) On top of the refrigerator
2) Behind furniture
3) Underneath appliances (stove and refrigerator)
4) Throw rugs and area rugs
5) Clutter

For more detailed information regarding these areas, get your copy of R U Looking? today!

Wannie and Lillie

6 Pointers for Pet Peeve #2 (Bathrooms)

2010-06-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed how you can linger in the bathrooms at really nice restaurants or major department stores; but if you're caught in a bind and have to use the restrooms at a gas station, sometimes even your children don't want to go! A clean bathroom is always welcoming, especially if it is nicely decorated as well. But when a bathroom is dirty, you almost wonder if you're completely clean when you're finished using it! Some simple pointers for maintaining a clean bathroom include:

Clean the bathtub after baths or showers to prevent hard water stains from forming.
Periodically clean the toilet bowl, especially if any types of marks are left. Pay attention to the floor around the base of the toilet and the outside of the toilet bowl especially if there are males in the home. Buildup in this area will cause your bathroom to appear dirty and smell.
Shake throw rugs and sweep and/or mop the floor regularly.
Clean the mirror and fixtures as needed to remove fingerprints and water spots.
Remove used towels to keep the bathroom looking neat and tidy.
Remember, once a week, you should thoroughly clean and sanitize the entire bathroom.

Keeping the bathroom clean should be easy. Everyone uses the bathroom, therefore, everyone can take a part in cleaning it. Are you seeing what's really there when looking around your bathroom? Get your copy of R U Looking? today!

Wannie and Lillie

3 Ways to become a Chaste Keeper of the Home

2010-04-24T09:53:00.000-07:00

What is a chaste keeper of the home? The word chaste means clean, immaculate, neat or classic. A keeper watches or guards. As a chaste keeper of the home, we are to set a guard over our home and keep it in order. We set the tone and we lead by example because we are the first “teachers” in the home. We are being observed closely by others and imitated as well and whatever we do affects everyone in the whole house.

Proverbs 31:26-27 says, "when she speaks, her words are wise and kindness is the rule when she gives instruction. She carefully watches all that goes on in her household and does not bear the consequences of laziness." Remember, you should know everything that's going on in your home. Become the chaste keeper!

Choose each day how you want to live
Make your home a place that you want to come home to
Know what's going on in your home

Get your copy of R U Looking? for more ways to keep your home clean and see what's really there!

Wannie and Lillie

R U Looking? 31 Things To Look For When Cleaning Your Home Book Release

2010-04-02T19:43:00.002-07:00

R U Looking? 31 Things To Look For When Cleaning Your Home outlines tried and true tips for having a clean home at all times. You will learn how to do simple things on a daily, weekly, monthly, semi-annually or on an as needed basis that will transform the appearance of your home. Get your copy today for only $10 plus shipping and handling!

3 Cleaning Tips for Working Women

2010-04-02T19:24:00.000-07:00

Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies! Over the years, we've been called power women, super women and even fearless women. Regardless of what we've been called or what position we hold in the work place, the last thing we want to do at the end of the day is to come home to a dirty house.

Following are three simple ways to make your life a little easier and to keep your home a little cleaner:

Tidy up at night - Take 10 to 20 minutes and do a “sweep” through your home and pick up anything that is out of place. (See R U Looking? pp 20-21 for more tips)
Do laundry on a schedule - If you hate doing laundry, schedule it so you're not doing a load every day. Remember laundry is not done until it's done! Wash, dry, fold and put it away! You can always do other things while the washer and dryer are on and if you do your laundry the evening before your day off, you can enjoy your day off and not spend it doing household chores. (See R U Looking? pp 21-22 for more laundry tips)
Make your bedroom your peace and your pleasure - Your bedroom should be a place of peace and quiet as well as relaxation and harmony. Keep it clutter free so that is will be a haven to retreat to after a long or hard day. (See R U Looking? pp 19-20 for more ideas for your bedroom)

As working women, we don't need to come home after a hard day and have to work just to get into our homes. For more simple tips for cleaning your home, get your own copy of R U Looking? today!

Wannie and Lillie

Spring Has Sprung: Time to Deep Clean

2010-03-11T15:56:00.000-08:00

As the season changes and the days become longer, we tend to open the windows in our homes and let the sunshine come in. As we enter into March, we want to remind any of you who made resolutions to de-clutter this year to get back on track. This time of year is a great time to begin spring cleaning.

Major “underneath” cleaning should be done twice per year and spring is usually the first time of the year that we roll up our sleeves to do it. Some things on the “to do” list can range from washing and painting baseboards, stripping floors and applying a new coat of wax to moving and cleaning underneath appliances and large furniture.

In our book, R U Looking? you will find a list of other things to consider when spring cleaning. The list is not exhaustive and you may not have to do everthing that we suggest. As you go through the list however, you will learn to see what's really in your home and you can identify any problem areas and begin to transform the look of your home from floor to ceiling!

Get your copy of R U Looking? today and let the sunshine come in!

Wannie and Lillie

3 Ways to Clean Up Your Attitude (Excerpt from R U Looking?)

2010-02-19T18:12:00.000-08:00

Now that your mind is clear and the weight is off, it's easier to see that it does not always matter how you do something, but the attitude you have while doing it makes all the difference in the world.

1.Check yourself before you wreck yourself! Do a self-examination and let go of unnecessary burdens. If it won't matter in five years, it shouldn't matter today. Be grateful that you have someone to pick up after!

2.Focus in on what you have to do in your home and with the right attitude, you won't believe what you will get done. Now put on your favorite music and dance or sing your way to a cleaner home.

3.Make a conscious decision to choose a positive attitude every day because it can take you many places and open numerous doors for you. A clean home means less stress, opportunities for entertaining and no more clutter!

Clean up your attitude and you'll be able to clean up your home!

R U Looking? Are You Seeing What's Really There?

Get the Weight Off and Love Again

2010-02-11T04:54:00.000-08:00

February is sometimes called the LOVE month. It's here and in full swing and love should be in the air! But maybe love is not on your mind because you're feeling helpless and the issues of life are weighing you down. The motivation of your new year's resolution is fleeing and you don't feel like doing anything at all – especially cleaning your home.

Hebrews 12:1 says “let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” We have to do just that. There are some things in life that we simply cannot control and we have to stop worrying about those things. We literally have to lay them aside because they are out of our hands. But the things we can control and do, we must DO THEM. We have to endure so that we can see the end of it! Follow these steps to make your home a home that you love again.

Clear your mind
Look around your home
Identify your problem room
Think about what you need to do in that room
Focus on that
Now get ready to work

With a clear mind, the weights of life set aside and off your shoulders, you can focus on what must be done in all areas of your life. Choose today to make it your best day. R U Looking? Are you seeing what's really there? Remember, things always look better in a clean room!

Wannie and Lillie

More tips coming soon!

3 Steps to Win the Battle Against Clutter

2010-01-26T18:13:00.000-08:00

What exactly is clutter? We found several definitions such as untidy mess; state of disorder; litter; things left around untidily; to disorder and to make untidy. Have you made any progress in your decluttering projects? What state are you in? Are you an "untidy mess" or do you choose to live untidily? Do you find yourself hoarding things or holding on to stuff that you refuse to let go?

In this new year, make an honest decision to live clean and free from clutter. Learn to let go of things that are not important. Don't allow things to become more important than life. You will find that when you let go of things, it not only frees you of clutter physically, it can also free you mentally. As you let go, you will feel a weight being lifted off. And as you clear the inside of your home and yourself, the outside will be better. You will find yourself happier and free!

Let us know what's on your mind and as you go through your clutter, follow these three steps to win the battle:

Pace yourself. Once you've chosen the area to declutter, do a little each day. Remember, life by the yard is hard, but life by the inch is a cinch!
Don't get too overwhelmed thinking of all the things you have to do because you end up procrastinating and not doing anything at all.
Try and get everyone in your home on board. Otherwise you might find yourself fighting a losing battle.

Open your eyes and win the battle! R U Looking? Are you seeing what's really there?

2010 Cleaning Revolution

2010-01-16T19:25:00.000-08:00

One definition of revolution is a complete and radical change of any kind. As we go into a new year, we have many things on our list that we want to do differently. Somehow, we never quite make it through that list.

Tip for the month: Declutter

It doesn't matter how much or how little we have in our homes, making it a home we want to be in or come home to makes it so much easier to deal with whatever issues we have to face. Start today and declutter one room at a time. Choose the room in your home that you want to radically change. Decluttering physically can also help you declutter mentally. Things to do:

Make three categories: keep, donate or trash.
Don't move your stuff from one room to another. Throw it away!
Clean and decorate that room.

Take your time. Remember, you still have eleven months to finish all the other rooms! Get your copy of
R U Looking? today.

Wannie and Lillie